British and Foreign State Papers (Volume 49) (Paperback)

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1867. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... might assume in a Treaty, and that, therefore, I had no instructions as yet to enter upon that point with his Excellency; but, to judge from the Preliminaries, Her Majesty's Government, I remarked, were apprehensive that the Treaty to be based on them would not fulfil the intentions proclaimed by the British and French Plenipotentiaries in the Congress of Paris, of obtaining some security against the perturbations and revolutions which so constantly threaten the tranquillity of the Italian Peninsula. I said that a Confederation which would permit the Emperor of Austria, for Venetia, the Pope, the King of Naples, and twro Austrian Archdukes, to bring their united influence to bear upon its decisions, gave but little hope of Italian liberty; and with regard to Venetia assuming a similar position to that of Luxemburg, I observed that the comparison would not stand the test of near examination, because the weight and influence of the King of Holland in the Germanic Confederation, as Duke of Luxemburg, was positively nothing as compared to the weight and influence which would be exercised by the Emperor of Austria, as King or Duke of Venetia in an Italian Confederation. Count "Walewski demurred to this latter assertion. His Excellency said that he had been examining the relations existing between Holland and Luxemburg, and he found that the latter had no other connection with Holland than that the two countries had a common Sovereign; their administration, finance, army, &c, were completely separated. He went into some details to prove this, and added, that if the Emperor of Austria could be persuaded to render Venetia as independent as was Luxemburg, and to make Mantua and Pcschiera federal fortresses, he thought there would be little danger of Austria exercising suprem...