The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-04-02
THE AUSTRIAN OFFzc1AI HISTORY or TIM
QU1RREL.

The Frankfort Journal Of the 9Th instant publishes the
following despatch which was forwarded the 2sth Of
February last by the Austrian Minister Of Foreign Az
iars TO Count Appony, the Austrian minister at Lon
don
Lord A. Lotus has conGdentiay read to despatch
IN which Lord Aalmesbury states that the British gov
enment cannot to its great regret regard as dspeed
the fears of spread since the Of the
year. and that he consequently feels himself obliged not
70 relax his efforts to prevent conagntion which GER
tainly would not remain limited 10 Italy lD
The circular despatch addressed by Count Cavour to
the Sandman missions the subject OF the loan which
the Pedmontese government wishes 10 contract with
view 10 military preparations, offers, according 70 the
opinion of Lord Mamesburya favorable opportunity 10
renew friendly eounses TO both parties .sae
The British cabinet, without adopting the grounds of
that circular which tend to justify the loan account
of the threatening attitude Austria Is said 20 have
Sumed on the Piedmontese frontier seems attach inn
porance 10 ascertain the view take of that document
and 20 acquire the conviction that have intention
of attacking Sardinia and that, the contrary,
should feel Inclined to give our hand to the Pedmonese
government TO allow both parties 10 withdraw their
troops from the respective frontiers.
We are fully able to appreciate these friendly
lures and we willingly unite ourselves with the British
government IN Its endeavors to spare the world ii ii is
possible, the horrors of general oonfagraton We
glad therefore TO have the opportunity of entering into
the subject at length. and hope to make pacific in
tentions perfectly clear
What the complaints brought against us in Count
Cavours circular They to be found in the protests
issued by that minister against the prepondeating in
h"ence which, according to him. Austria exercises in
Italy beyond the limits which treaties have assigned her
and which constitute permanent menace against Sar-
DINA
Let us examine closer this strange accusation may
be wrong but believe it to be ia the nature of things
that great political bodies will always be called upon
exercise certain influence neighborng States What
important to the general interests is that such influence
should never be usurped abused to the derment of
the independence of another State.
Austria has than been in O position to offer
a helping hand to the Italian governments overthiown
by revolution. That assistance has been forced
upon any one on the contrary II has only been accord
ed at the request of legitimate authority and with the
dsiuerested view of maintaining public order and
quilllty. Our troops have always been Withdrawn
soon as the legitimate authority has been reestabshcd
with sufficient nness to enable to dispense with their
assistance. Count Cavour need not go far back in the
history of his country to find example of services like
these rendered by Austria to the dynasty of Savoy AT
that time it is true, the modern theories of public right
which Count Cayour has introduced had yet taken
deep root in Piedmont .ss
We will not stop to examine in detail the absurd
oach that has been urged against TO the confidence
which is safe for our neghbors to feel in the integrity
OF our intentions, and what has been added with regard
to the treaties which oxst between ourselves and certain
Italian States does not appear to to be worthy of any
more serious consideration. ae
What can there be to find fault with in what be
more unavailable on the score of POI uar right
conducive to the general interests order and peace
than the existence of treaties between Independent States
exclusively in the interest of legitimate defence imposing
and not influencing the degree the rights ofany
third power? But, although these trea are not in any
way opposed to the principle of public right we well
understand that they of nature most obstructive to
the ambitious views of government which, not content
with being absolute within its own dominions endeavos
to assume the character of the privileged organ of the
pretended sorrows of Italy, and aogaes itself the
right disavowed by every other Italian government of
speaking in the name of the whole peninsula Although
Count Cavour admits the right of appealing foreign aid
when that aid is invoked in the interest of dscord he de-
MES it to legitimate governments which really have mis-
sion to watch public tranquility and guard the inter-
ests OF their peaceabe subjects and these strange prnci
plies are proclaimed by the cabinet Of Turin at moment
when relying for support in its aggressive designs ON
great neghboring power
These contradictions are too selfevient to allow the
slightest doubt TO obtain that the complaints of the abuse
OF Austras influence are but vain and empty preexts
What may be true in these declamaons this In ls4s
the King Of Sardinia invaded Iombardy without decar
alton of war and without being able to Justify that rp
ture of peace except the grounds of the national sen
ment which urged him to to the aid of his Cypress
ed brethren The unjust agg pessoF epulsed in two
victorious campaigns Austria took advantage of the
fruits of her victory with moderation which Europe has
rendered justice to- Peace signed we took Il for
granted. On the other hand third attsg,,s never left
the programme Of the Turin csh.ne,. While awaiting
favorable moler 70 invade us again, Piedmont kept up
an undernand against by allowing free vent to
caumny and insult in centious press which made an
pels to revolt addressed to the populations of other
Italian States and by hostile demonstrations of every de
scriptioD, EEt
When only two years after he had assembled the throne
our august MASTER the Emperor, visited his Italian do
minions, marking his way by acts of grace and benevo
lence the Pedmoese press redoubled the fury its at
lacks anu In Its madness offered defence of rasi-
eide IL was then that asked Of the Turin govern
men the simple question what guarantees it could offer
us against the CONTINUATION of state of things destruc-
tive " the good feeling which wished to sust be-
tween the two governments and it is this moderate Ian
guage which Count Cavour speaks OF as an attempt ON
part to force upon his government modification of
the institutions Of his country,
The Emperors charge d aifares was recalled from
Turin that he might no longer be ocular witness of
an abnormal state of things which the Piedmontese gov
crnment declined to remedy. But this suspension of di
pomatic relations did not prevent from continuing as
BEFORE to concert such with the Piedmontese
government as were of nature to favor and evelop in
terconrse and commercial relations in a word friendly
relations between the two countries
Despite these good intentions and constant moderation
despite our nexhaustblc patience anatica cries of war
were shouted across the Tessn especially since the com
mencement of the present year.
In consequence of the agitation produced by the war
like tone OF the royal speech the opening of she Pied
montese farliamentan agitation which the subsequent
ministerial explanations certainly calculated to
aliay-the imperial government decided upon sending
achievements into the Lombardo- Venetian Kingdom
This measure dictated by the most common prudence
was one Of purely defensive nature The assertion of
Count Cavour, that 1t hostile movement directed
against Sardinia has little foundation as his other as
seron that the gasons of oogne and Ancona had been
reinforced.
This Is in few words, the present position of affairs
In all honor, we ask, what do to improve IL
Would it be possible to carry moderation and orbeor
ance further than we have donei And powers eunb os
Great Britain who strive for peace 50 axiously and so