| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | Queen Victoria remarks that Lord Palmerston's partiality and unfairness in the Italian Question surpass all conception, and makes the Queen very uneasy for the character and honour of England, and for the danger posed to the peace of Europe. It is clearly proved by Baron Wessenberg that, on the conclusion of the armistice with Sardinia, negotiations for peace would have speedily begun had England's mediation not been offered to the King of Sardinia, to whom the offer of Lombardy was too tempting to refuse: now that promise is to be made good. The Queen cannot see any principle in this, as Lord Palmerston follows the principle of Italian nationality and independence from a foreign yoke and tyranny. How then can the Venetian territory be secured to Austria; and if this is done, on what ground can Lombardy be wrested from Austria? It is not safe to settle such important matters by 'personal passion' alone, and not with principle. When the French Government say it cannot control public feeling, Lord Palmerston takes this as an unalterable fact, and sufficient reason to make Austria give up Lombardy. When the Austrian Government says it cannot give up Lombardy because of the feeling of the Austrian Army, which has just reconquered that area with blood and suffering, Lord Palmerston replies that the Emperor had better abdicate, and make General Radetzky Emperor. When the King of Sardinia burnt the suburbs of Milan with the pretence of defending the town, Lord Palmerston said nothing; but now the Austrian Governor has prohibited revolutionary placards on the walls, and taken steps for the surrender of arms, Lord Palmerston complains to Vienna. Venice was to have been made over to Austria by the armistice, and now this has not been done, Austria is not to retake it in order to have something in hand with which to make further concessions. Queen Victoria does not think this is fair. In the meantime, according to the British Consul in Venice, French agents there are actively intriguing against Austria and have asked him to assist, which he has refused to do. Lord Palmerstom merely approved his action, and did not write to Paris about this matter. The question at issue is not even to be submitted to a Conference of European Powers, but is to be settled by Palmerston and the French Republic through Lord Normanby [British Ambassador to France], who is pledged to Italian so-called independence. If Austria makes peace with Sardinia and gives her Italian provinces separate national institutions with liberal constitutional government, who can force another arrangement on that country? |