| Collection | Victorian Papers, Main Series |
| Description | The Queen has read the drafts, but does not feel that the one addressed to Lord Bloomfield, in reply to Baron Schleinitz's offer to come to an understanding with Britain over Italian policy, is likely to do good. It snubs the Prussian Government and is likely to give serious offence. The offer is a step towards Britain, and does not deserve a sharp rebuke, but the opposite. If Britain rejects any understanding with any power other than France, which then comes to nothing, the whole of Europe will be against Britain. The Queen considers the draft of great importance, and feels the Cabinet ought to regard it and similar ones as affecting Britain's general relationship with foreign powers. Regarding the draft about the Maritime Law, the Queen has marked a passage which requires reconsideration. After showing that the alteration of these Laws would give great advantages to weak Naval powers and destroy the superiority of the strong ones, the draft then states that the Government cannot understand how the Hansa Towns can agree in them, as they can never be at war with a Maritime Power. The Queen, however, disagrees, and thinks they could be at war with Russia, Denmark, France or England, etc., at any time. She also thinks that the tone of the draft to Lord A. Loftus regarding Venetia [?] is bitter and provoking. |