Daily union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1865-1866, 1866-07-03
THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON'S LETTER
ON THE SITUATION IN EUROPE AND
THE POSITION OF FRANCE.

The following is the full text of the En-
peror NAPoIEoN's letter to the Minister o
Foreign Affairs, of which a portion has al.
ready been given. 1t was read on the 18th
inst before the Corps Legislatih':
PALACE OF THE TUuERIEs, June In
! le Hnistre: At the moment when the hopes
! of peace which the meeting of the Confer
1 ence made US conceive seem to be vanishing
| it is essential to explain in a circular to the
! diplomatic agents abroad the ideas which my
! Government contemplated presenting in the
Councils of Europe, and the conduct it means
TO follow in presence of the events which
are preparing. This communication will
place our policy in its true light
Had the Conference taken place, your
language, as you are aware, would have been
explicit. You were to declare in my name
that l repudiated all idea Of territorial ag-
grandizement so long as the equilibrium of
Europe was not disturbed. In effect, we
could not think of an extension of our from
tiers except in case Of the map of Europe
being Iemodelled for the exclusive benefit of
a great power, and of the conterminOUs prov
inces demanding by votes freely expressed,
their annexation to France.
Outside these circumstances, | think it
more worthy of our country to prefer to the
acquisition of territory the precious advant-
age Of living on good terms with our neigh
bors by respecting their independence and
their nationality.
Animated by these sentiments, and hav-
ing only in view the preservation of peace,
appealed to England and to Russia to adj
dress at the same time words of Cancellation
to the parties interested.
The accord established between the cen
trail powers will Of itself be a pledge Of secu-
ritv Tor Europe. They showed their impair
TALLY in resolving to limit the discussion of
the Conference to the pending questions. In
order 10 resolve them | think il was ncces-
ssry to address ourselves 90 them frankly. 10
disengage them from the diplomatic veil
which covered them, and to take into seri-
Gus consideration the legitimate wishes Of
soyereigns and Of nations.
The conflict which has arisen has three
cause.-the geographical situation of Prus-
STA impcrfectlv limited, the wish of Germany
demanding political reconstruction more
coniormable 20 its general wants, and the
necessity of Italy 10 secure her national in
dependence.
The neutral powers could not interpose in
Nevertheless. the courts that participated in
the constitutional acts Of the Germanic Con-
federation had the right to examine whether
the changes demanded were not of kind TO
eudaurcr the order established in Europe
We should have desired, in what concerns
ourselves, for the secondary state of the
Confederation a closer union, n stronger or
gauization, a more important position for
Inrrr-s, ,g..r a., np1vera-s in Tho mort
for Austria, the maintenance of her great
position in Germany.
We shoulG have desired, moreover. that
for an equitable compensation, Austria
should cede Nenetia to Italy, for If, in con-
cert with Prussia, and without regard 10 the
treaty of 1882. She made war in Denmark ON
behalf Of German nationality, 1t seemed 20
me just that she should recognize the same
principle for Italy by completing the indie
pendcncc of the Peninsula
such are the ideas which, for the ropose
OF Europe, we should have tried TO carry
out To-day there Is reason 10 fear that they
can be decided only by arms In such an
emergency what is the attitude it becomes
France 10 assume?
Ought we TO manifest our displeasure be-
cause Germany finds the treaties Of 1915 in
sufficient TO satisfy her national tendencies
and preserve her tranquility? In the war
which is about 10 break cut we have but two
Interests thc maintenance Of the European
equilibrium and the maintenance Of that
which we have contributed 10 constitute in
Italy.
But to save these two interests does not
the moral force OF France suffice? In order
that her voice shall be listened to win she