During a year marked by the Spring of Nations through much of Europe, in foreign policy Cavaignac essentially maintained the stance, adopted by the provisional government, of asserting sympathy towards the national movements, specially those in Italy, Germany and Poland, but avoided direct involvement. The worry about internal security and the complex situation abroad prompted this policy of neutrality. The chief concern for his government was the Italian War of Independence, being waged by Piedmont-Sardinia against the Austrian Empire in northern Italy. After the Austrian victory in late July at the Battle of Custoza, Cavaignac organized an army to support Piedmont-Sardinia, but in the absence of a request did not intervene. In contradiction, he also organized, and later cancelled, an expeditionary force in November to rescue Pope Pius IX, who had fled from a republican revolution in Rome.