| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | The despatches of Lord Cowley and Lord John's draft replies, which the Queen returns, have given her much pain. Here is the very interference with advice to which the Queen had objected, to which the Cabinet objected, and which Lord John had agreed to withdraw, carried on by the Prime Minister's direct communication with Emperor Napoleon through the French Ambassador. The result was that which the Queen dreaded: the French Minister insinuating that England called upon 'his Master' to act in such a dishonourable way that he would rather resign than be party to it. What is the use of the Queen's correspondence with her Ministers, or of the Cabinet's long deliberations, if the very policy which is set aside officially can be carried out by indirect means? What protection does the Queen have against this practice? She feels that Lord John's distinction between his official and his private opinion or advice given to a foreign minister is very dangerous and untenable. Lord John's advice to the Marquis d'Azeglio is quite open to the inference drawn by Count Walewski, that it is an encouragement to Sardinia, and to military intervention in and occupation of the Duchies. Lord John's answer hardly meets this point. The Queen asks Lord John to instruct Lord Cowley to state to Count Walewski that none of the opinions expressed on foreign policy are those of the Queen's Government except those given in the official and regular way, and that the British Government never thought of advising the French Government to break the solemn arrangements into which Emperor Napoleon entered towards the Emperor of Austria at Villa Franca. The Queen asks Lord John to communicate this letter to Lord Palmerston. |