The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-11-19
NAPOLEON AND CAVOUR.

History of the Interview at P!ombieres.
The following interesting account or the cele-
brated interview between the ex-Emperor and
Cavour, which led to the Italian war OF 1850, IS
extracted from the seventh volume or work
which, in the absence OF translated edition, Is
little known TO American readers. 'sThe Documen-
tary History of European Diplomacy in Italy from
1914 TO 1861 [.'Storia DOcumentata della Diplo-
mazia Eur0pca In Italia, DALI ammo 1914 alp ammo
1Sol.'i-yoi. I. Torlno. 1901 This work has been
for the last five years in course OF publication at
Turin, ana the archives Of the various disposessed
Italian dynasties, as well as those OF Piedmont
having been thrown open to the writer, the book
possesses character for authenticity which makes
1t OF great value TO the student OF modern Italian
history. The writer saSs:-
In following carefully the course OF this history it
viii be observed That the personal policy OF Napoleon
H. in reference TO Italian Affairs became direct and
explicit IN proportion TO easing belief that
he mad found Cavour wise and able colleague IN
the execution Of ms great design and III Piedmont
Power possessed OF sillclent influence 70 dlrecL
control The thoughts ana desires OF Italy. But SO
mucn precautlon was necessary; the path to be
troddcn was SO dark and tortuos; The obstacles to
overcome were SO great, and the moral forces on
which the success Of the undertaking largely relied
so difficult TO combine tiiaJ secret Uir0
derstanding was an Indispensable preliminary To
those less secret political lnanuuvres OF which
the chief ACTORS were alone 10 possess Tie Key
In June, 1885, DR.. Conneau WAS sent secretly by
Napoleon 20 turin, with al invitation 10 the Castle
oil Pomoieres Tor Cav0ur. The Italian Minister re-
piled that it would aiuid hin sincere pleasure TO
nave the opportunity OF personally conveying the
Emperor the friendly senlilneHs Of Inc King OF ar-
dina and his Cabinet. The imperial messenger
allowed il to be understood that the invitation was
To be concealed from the French Envoy AT Turin and
that tile Count was 10 travel tac0gnito TO ploln-
blercs Cay0ur accordingly took the road to SwltZer
land under pretense OF lnqulring INTO the feasibility
Of u tunnel through the LukDlanler Pass AT &C.
ncva ne met the Marquis salvatore dl ylllamarina
whom he had summoned thlther from Paris, that ne
might learn certain details and consult upon those
proposals which he Intended TO place before
The Emperor. ~ late nour one Salur-
day evening Cavour arrived AT the imperial
residence, accompanied by the Cavalier Francesca
de NelIet and the Marquis Emanuee Villamarina-
two honorable, nerltorlous discreet young men,
who played their modest parts TO perfection. The
Counts interview with the Emperor was fixed for
the following day alter mass They met at the ap-
pointed time, and renamed alone together Tor more
than four hours, being again tete-a-tete Tor similar
period after dinner. That same Sunday night found
Cavonr on The railway, gay and cheerful even be-
You'd precedent, and ONcrfowing 'ACn that shrewd
VII which gave 80 seductive charm TO HIS tamil
lar conversation The minute details Of these two
prolonged colleagues between the Emperor and the
statesman are covered Dy ven which
lied hand shall break the seal OF that
one document to Which the handwriting OF Cavour
consigned them. Nevertheless, the State papers
when we have examined enable us with suniolcnt
certainty to put on record that portion OF the truth
which 1t Is most important should become hlsori-
cal. No formal written agreement was drawn out
at Pombleres. This ef1ec red four months after
wards by secret treaty OF alliance, offensive and
defensive, between France and Pledmont Or the
marriage OF NapoleOns cousin with Victor Eman-
uei's daughter not word was then said The En-
Dero distinctly promised the aid OF the French
arms IN eXpellng The Austrlans IRON the Peninsula,
/ but added that it would be necessary TO nave
patience until he should have made the time ripe for
4 action. Meanwhile the policy OF Piedmont was
/ TO keep als0f from Austria, without, however.
| provoking rupture. Italy was To be kept In
a state of mental agitation, but any revou.
ti0nary movement was to be discouraged:
aud If possible, the friendship Of Russia was To be
gained. In return for French assistance Cavour
consented TO the cession OF savoy The question or
Nice, u was fuily detcri..ned should remain in
abeyance until the emo OF the war; For Italian uni
" not as much as wish was expressed but the
rough draft OF a future political organization OF
| Italy was sketched during an interview. The emf
nently Judcious mind OF Cav0ur prevented his en-
barking upon SO wide ana unknown u sea, on the
| navigation OF which, moreover, he well knew that
the Emperor would not have followed HIM. The
project of federation was In no way affected by the
foundation OF northern Kingdom OF Italy numbering
IL, 000 600 OF Inhabitants The temporal power was
still TO exist bat within greatly reduced limits OF
the two dypasties reigning In Tuscany and Naples
! Something was said, but probably nothing that cor
| responded TO the secret hopes and calculations O
| either uayour or tue Emperose