| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | The Queen returns the enclosures Lord John sent. She does not consider the Emperor of the French or his Ambassador justified in requesting England's support for proposals he intends to make to his antagonist tomorrow. He made war on Austria in order to take its two Italian kingdoms, which had been assured to Austria by the Treaties of 1815, to which England is a party. England declared neutrality in the war. The Emperor succeeded in driving Austria out of one of its Italian kingdoms after several bloody battles, and means to drive it out of the second by diplomacy with England's moral support. The Queen, having declared her neutrality to which Parliament and people have given unanimous consent, feels bound to adhere to it, and thinks that Lord John and Lord Palmerston should not ask her to give 'moral support' to one of the belligerents. Personally, she sees no distinction between moral and general support: the moral support of England is its support, and the country should be prepared to follow it up. The Queen wishes this letter to be communicated to the Cabinet. |