Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1860-08-15
THE FRENCH EMPEROR,s LETTER.

OF. CL0UD, July 20, 1860.
My DEAR PERsIGNY: Affairs appear to me
to be so complicated-thanks to the mistrust
excited everywhere since the war in Italy
that write to you in the hope that a CONVEX
sation, In perfect frankness, with Lord Pal
merston, will remedy the existing evil Lord
falmerston knows me, and when affirm q
thing he will believe me. Well, you can tell
him from me, in the most explicit manner,
that since the peace Of Villafranca I have had
but one thought, one object, to inaugurate a
new era OF peace, and to live on the best terms
with all my neighbors, and especially with
England. had renounced Savoy and Nice;
the extraordinary addition to Piedmont alone
caused me to resume the desire to see reunited
to France provinces essentially French But
1t VIII be objected, You wish for peace and
you increase immoderately the military forces
Of France 1 deny the fact in every sense
My army and my feet have in them nothing
OF threatening character. My steam navy
Is even far from being adequate to our require
ments, and the number Of steamers does not
nearly equal that of sailing ships deemed
necessary in the time Of King Louis Philippe.
l have 400 900 men under arms; but deduct
from this amount Cd, 900 in Algeria, 6,OOO at
Rome, 900 in China, 10000 gendsrmes; the
sick and the new conscripts, you will see
what il the truth-that my regiments are of
smaller effective strength than during the pre-
ceding reign. The only addition to the army
perial Guard. Moreover, while wishing for
peace, desire also to organize the forces of
the country on the best possible footing, for if
foreigners have only seen the bright side of
the last war, 1 myself, close at hand, have
witnessed the defects, and wish to remedy
them. Having said thus much, L have, since
Eillafranca, neither done nor even thought
anything which could alarm any one. When
Lavalette started for Constantinople the in
structions which gave him were confined to
his:-'Use every effort to maintain the status
quo; the interest of France is that Turkey
should live as long as possible
"Now, then, occur the massacres in Syria,
and it is asserted that am very glad to find a
new occasion Of making a little war, or play
ing new part. Really people give me credit
for very little common sense. If instantly
proposed an expedition it was because my feel
ings were those Of the people which has put me
at its head, and the intelligence from Syria
transported me with indignation. My first
thought, nevertheless, was to come to an un-
derstsnding with England. What other intnr-
est than that of humanity could induce me to
send troops into that country? Could it be that
the possession of it would increase my strength
Can L conceal from myself that Algeria, not
withstanding its future advantages, is a source
Of weakness to France, which for thirty years
has devoted to it the purest of its blood and its
gold? said it in 1852 at Bordeaux, and my
quests to mako, but only in France. Her
interior organisation, her moral development,
the increase Of her resources have still immense
progress to make There a field exists vast
enough for my ambition and sufficient to sat-
isfy it.
at was difficult for me TO come to an under
standing with England on the subject of Gen.
trail Italy, because I was bound by the peace
of Villafrancs. As to Southern Italy, I am
free from engagements and ask no better
than concert with England on this point, as
on others; but in Heavens name let the emf
pent men who are placed at the head of the
English Government lay aside petty jealousies
and unjust mistrusts.. Let US understand one
another in good faith, like honest men as We
are, and not like thieves who desire to cheat
each other.
"To sum up, this is my innermost thought ::
/ desire tina Italy should obtain peace, no
matter how, out without foreign intervention,
and that my troops should be able to quit Rome
without compromising the security of the Pope
could very much wish not to be Obliged to
undertake the Syrian expedition, and, in any
case, not to undertake it alone FIRST, because
it will be great expense and, secondly, be-
cause fear this Intervention may involve the
Eastern question; but, on the other hand, do
not see how to resist public opinion in my
country, which will never understand that We
can leave unpublished not only the massacre of
Christians, but the burning Of our Consulates,
the insult to our flag, and the pillage of the
monasteries which were under our protection
4 have told you all, I think, without dis
guising or emitting anything. Make what use
Believe in my sincere friendship,