PAPERS BY COMMAND. (Hansard, 2 March 1860)

§ LORD JOHN RUSSELL
brought up papers by command of Her Majesty containing the Correspondence respecting the proposed annexation of Savoy and Nice to France.

§ SIR HARRY VERNEY
wished to ask the noble Lord, Whether he has any information to communicate upon this subject. He wished to know whether the Emperor of the French did intend either by force or intrigue to obtain possession of Savoy and Nice, or whether he intends to submit the question to the four great Powers, and, if so, whether the fact of one or more of them dissenting from his view will prevent him carrying out his object?

§ MR. BAILLIE COCHRANE
said, before the noble Lord answered the question he wished to ask him whether he is prepared to fix a day for the discussion of the subject referred to in those papers?

§ SIR JOHN WALSH
said, that, before the noble Lord replied to those questions, he wished to ask, Whether he has any information to communicate as to the existence of any Treaty or arrangement between Sardinia and France in respect to the proposed annexation?

§ LORD JOHN RUSSELL
Sir, I think the best course for me to pursue will be that of moving the Adjournment of the House until Monday; and in making that Motion, I will take the opportunity of replying to the questions that have been put to me. With respect to the last question asked me, as to whether there existed any treaty between France and Sardinia in relation to the annexation of Savoy, I can only say that we have no knowledge of any such treaty, nor do we believe in the existence of any such treaty. I stated on a former occasion that the Emperor of the French had said—and that fact will appear by the papers just produced—that he will net take any steps towards the annexation of Savoy without consulting the great Powers of Europe. I think it will be as well that I should read what the Emperor 2144 himself has said in His Speech—which I can only do from a newspaper—because we have no other knowledge than a telegram—and the Emperor of course must be the best interpreter of his own views on the subject. He first speaks of the contingency of Piedmont becoming a great country—and it is now a kingdom with more than 9,000,000 inhabitants—and he proceeds to say— Looking to this transformation of Northern Italy which gives to a powerful State all the passes of the Alps, it was my duty, for the security of our frontiers, to claim the French slopes of the mountains. This re-assertion of a claim to a territory of small extent has nothing in it of a nature to alarm Europe and give a denial to the policy of disinterestedness which I have proclaimed more than once, for France does not wish to proceed to this aggrandizement, however small it may be, either by military occupation, or by provoked insurrection, or by underhand manœuvres, but by frankly explaining the question to the great Powers. They will doubtless understand in their equity, as France would certainly understand it for each of them under similar circumstances, that the important territorial re-arrangement which is about to take place gives us a right to a guarantee indicated by nature herself. Now, what I understand, and what appears by the correspondence that has taken place on this subject, is that it is the opinion of the Government of the Emperor of the French, and it appears to be the opinion, certainly, of a great portion of the French people, that the creation of a State in Northern and Central Italy, with a population of 9,000,000, and still more of 11,000,000 or 12,000,000, is a change for the worse in the situation of France; which, instead of having a small State on the frontiers towards the Alps, would have a considerable State. In case of war, supposing that Sardinia combined with other Powers she would have the means of placing considerable armaments on the frontiers, and of invading France by the side of Savoy as well as by the side of Nice. And it is asserted that in consequence of France having contributed by her arms in the war of last year in Italy to make the situation, which situation, the French contend, would be the worse for themselves—that under such circumstances it is but fair and equitable that she ask for a more secure frontier on this side of the Alps. This I believe I stated in substance upon a former occasion. But it appears that, upon entering into a conversation on the subject in Paris, the Emperor declared that he did not mean to proceed to any such annexation without consulting the 2145 great Powers of Europe. My hon. Friend now asks me whether that means that the Emperor will not proceed to carry out the annexation if all, or any portion of, the great Powers of Europe disapprove of it. It is obvious that I cannot precisely answer that question. I cannot go beyond what the Emperor and his Government have declared—namely, that they would not proceed in this course of annexation without consulting the great Powers of Europe. But I should infer myself—without the authority, of course, as to what the French Government will do—that if that opinion was general and unanimous among the great Powers of Europe, that France did not require that annexation for her security, and that such annexation would occasion alarm and disquietude to other Powers—if that were, I say, the unanimous opinion of the great Powers, I should infer that the Emperor would not proceed to that annexation. At all events, it is declared that it is a matter which will be discussed by the great Powers of Europe, and that France is not going—as some hon. Gentlemen seemed to suppose—to establish a military occupation of Savoy; but will rely upon what she calls the equitable consideration of the case by the great Powers of Europe. I do not know that I can give the House any further information on the subject. I can only repeat what I have said—that I understand—though only as a matter of personal belief —that, if the opinion is general on the part of the great Powers against that annexation, that that annexation will not take place. If, on the contrary, it is declared by them that the proposition on the part of France is a fair one, then France will proceed to annex Savoy. With regard to the views of Her Majesty's Government on the subject, they are contained in the papers I have just laid upon the table. An hon. Gentleman has asked me upon what day I propose to take the discussion upon those papers. I can only say that it is not usual, unless Government has some measure to bring forward in connection with it, to fix a day for mere discussion of papers. The hon. Gentleman will not suppose that I am going to invite a vote of censure upon the Government. On the other hand, I do not intend to ask for a vote of approbation. These papers will be distributed among Members; and if any Member should think it necessary to bring them under discussion, he may propose such a Motion, as he thinks it necessary; and it 2146 will be for him, and not for the Government who have no Motion to propose, to fix any day he may think proper.