| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | The Queen returns various papers and is glad that Lord Palmerston does not think that an answer should be given to Count Persigny, but feels it is important that he should be told that no answer can be given to him. It is another case of the Prime Minister declaring that he agrees with the French Ambassador, but that the proposal should come officially from the France to be placed before the Cabinet - the inference being that the Cabinet and the Queen will also agree when it is submitted. Lord Palmerston has approved a plan for an alliance between England and France in order to overrule Austria if that country objects to the Duchies (in which Austria is the heir) were given to Sardinia. It is hoped that this will not immediately lead to war, but France is to expect that it would not be left to fight alone for an object declared to be more English than French. Thus England would be dragged in to being a party in the Italian strife. The Queen wishes Lord John to know that she could not approve such a policy, which reverses England's whole position since the start of the war. She leaves it to Lord John to consider how much to tell his Cabinet colleagues of the various private steps being taken, which must seriously affect their free consideration of the important question. |