, 1859-05-14
Statement of the French Emperor to
THE Le2f&tafufe.

k1AE ACSA1AAkAAG*
Tie statement Of Napoleon to tue Legislature
through CUNT Waleski, is more important. It
WAS made on the eth, and is understood to have
been drawn up by the Emperor himself. After
recountiny the efforts which hare been made
by Enylnnd md France for the preservation Of
the pence, ind setting forth the propositions
which Austria had just entertained and t!.cn re-
iccted, the paper concludes thus:
"I-ou arc already aware, gentlemen, that,
modifying that suggestion in manner to con-
ciate I'LL susceptbilitics tie government Of her
britannia Majesty presented d last proposition,
based upon the principle Of general, simuta-
neous, and immediate disarmament. The exc
cution thereof was to be regulated by 4 commits
siun, in which Piedmont should bc represented.
The plcni potentiarics should meet US soun us
that commission itself have met, nnd the Italian
States should be invited Dy the Congress to sit
with the representatives, Of the Five Great
Powers, in the sane manner US at the Congress
OF I.lybnch in ISL.
"Thc government Of the Emperor wished to
manifest again its conciliatoyy disposition by aa-
herring to that proposition, which Was also ac-
ccptca without delay by the courts OF Prussia
and Russia, md to which tn: Piednlontese
government also declared itseif ready to COLI
turin.
"1ct, at tllc very moment when the govern
ment Of the Emperor thought it might cherish
the hope of dctinitive understanding. We
learned that !'lc court Of Austria refused 10 Ut
cept the proposition Of the government Of her
lsrittanic Mnjesty. and addressed i direct SUM
mons to the Sandman government. While. on
the one side. the cabinet of Vienna persists in
not conscnliny to the admission of the Itaiun
States to the Congress, the meeting Of which it
thus renders impossible, on the other hand it
demands FROM Piedmont to place her army on 4
peace footn!, and to disband her volunteers
that is to say, to concede without delay, and to
Austria alone, that which it l,ad already granted
to the Powers, under the sole reserve Of cunning
to I'LL understanding with them about it.
"1 need not bring into relief the character Of
this step, nor dwell longer upon il to demon
stratc the sentiments Of moderation which, on
tie contrary, have never ccascd to animate the
government Of the Emperor. If the reiterated
Efforts Of the four Powers to maintain peace
have met with obstacles, our condnc, publicly
attests TINT those obstacles did not CONF from
France. Finally, gentlemen, II war is to be the
result Of the present complication. the govern
meut Of his Majesty will have the trui convc.
tion Of having done everything which its dignity
allowed it to prevent that extremity, End it is
not upon it that the responsibility can lie made
to rest The protests which the governments
of Great Britain, Of Russia and o! Prussia hare
addressed tn the court Of Austria attest that
full justice is already rendered to US III that
respect
dinia is mcnacetl, il as eyrrvt|in. leads il to be
presumed, her territory il invaded. France can
not hesitate to respond to the appeal Of i na-
tion, her aly, 10 which see Is bound by com.
mon interests and Traditional! sympatiies, re-
generated by recent coniruternity in arms,
and by the union contracted between the two
reiynins houses.
"Thus, gentlemen, the government Of the