CORRESPONDENCE between Great Britain, France, Sardinia, and Switzerland, respecting the proposed Annexation of Savoy and Nice to France.-1859, 1860.* No. 1.-Captain Harris to Lord J. Russell.-(Received July 5.) (Extract.) Berne, July 1, 1859. HAVING been confined to my room by fever during the last fortnight, I have not had my usual interviews with the President of the Confederation; but this morning he called upon me by appointment, being anxious, he said, to converse with me on the rumour of the projected annexation of Savoy to France, in the event of the King of Piedmont obtaining an extension to his dominions in Italy. The President said, that the Swiss Chargé d'Affaires in Paris had been instructed to demand explanation on the subject; that the Sardinian Minister here positively denied that there was any such engagement. I pointed out to the President the despatches Nos. 480 and 507 in the Blue Book on the Affairs of Italy, showing the steps which Her Majesty's Government had taken, through Lord Cowley, to ascertain the truth of this report, which had, however, not led to a very distinct refutation of it on the part of the French Minister. The President said he wished me to impress on Her Majesty's Government that it was of vital importance to the safety and independence of Switzerland that Savoy, and especially "Haute Savoie," should never be annexed to France; that if that were to take place, her flank would be laid completely open, and that, probably, Geneva would soon follow. The President said he did not wish Her Majesty's Government to take steps in the matter at present; but, in the event of the question being raised hereafter, that the above statement should be borne in mind by them, and that England would prove the same fast friend to Switzerland in the hour of need as heretofore. I cannot believe that the King of Piedmont would give up a territory from which his family derive a name, illustrious in statesmanship and war for so many centuries, and a district which supplies his bravest and most loyal troops; whilst the poverty of its soil would render it but a poor acquisition to France. It is probable, therefore, that the rumour is not true, and surely it would be better that France and Sardinia should at once, by an open disclaimer, allay this cause of suspicion and disquiet. Lord J. Russell. E. A. J. HARRIS. *Laid before Parliament, 1860. No. 2.-Earl Cowley to Lord J. Russell.—(Received July 5.) (Extract.) Paris, July 4, 1859. I HAVE afforded Count Walewski an opportunity of giving me as much information as he might choose respecting the intentions attributed to the Emperor of annexing Savoy to France, to which Captain Harris's despatch of the 1st instant, forwarded by this messenger, relates. I regret to say that his Excellency's language was not over satisfactory. He stated, indeed, that he could give me the positive assurance that there was no understanding whatever upon the subject between France and Sardinia, but he did not deny that the question had been more than once discussed, and that the Emperor had entertained the idea that if Sardinia was to become a large Italian Kingdom, it was not unreasonable to expect that she should make territorial concessions elsewhere. I said that I trusted that the Emperor for his own sake, and for the sake of his reputation with Europe, would abandon any such idea of territorial aggrandisement, if he still harboured it. Lord J. Russell. MY LORD, No. 3.-Lord J. Russell to Earl Cowley. COWLEY. Foreign Office, July 5, 1859. I HAVE to state to your Excellency, with reference to the report contained in your despatch of the 4th instant, of a conversation which you had had with Count Walewski, that Her Majesty's Government have learned with extreme concern that the question of annexing Savoy to France has been in agitation. The Emperor's declaration at Milan that the "enemies" of the Emperor represented him as making war to aggrandize the territory of France, gave great satisfaction in this country. But in Germany it was confidently said that this declaration would not be adhered to. If Savoy should be annexed to France, it will generally be supposed that the left bank of the Rhine, and the "natural limits," will be the next object; and thus the Emperor will become an object of suspicion to Europe, and kindle the hostility of which his uncle was the victim. In conforming your language to Count Walewski to the tenor of this despatch, your Excellency will make him understand that the observations of Her Majesty's Government are dictated by the most friendly feelings towards the Emperor. He Count Persigny spoke to me to-day on the same subject, and I made to him the same remarks I have made to your Lordship. dwelt on the little value of Savoy, a bare rock, as he said, but which might avail Piedmont for an attack on France if Sardinia should become a great Power. I purposely abstained from any discussion of the value of Savoy. That part of the subject may be reserved for future comment. Earl Cowley. I am, &c. J. RUSSELL. No. 4.-Earl Cowley to Lord J. Russell.-(Received July 9.) MY LORD, Paris, July 8, 1859. IN the course of the interview which I had with Count Walewski, this afternoon, his Excellency said that I might give your Lordship the assurance that the Emperor had abandoned all idea of annexing Savoy to France. I said that Her Majesty's Government would receive this intelligence with unmixed satisfaction, and that I rejoiced that the Emperor had relinquished a project, the success of which would have been of no real value to France, and would seriously have affected His Majesty's position in the eyes of Europe. Lord J. Russell. I have, &c. No. 5.-Lord J. Russell to Earl Cowley. COWLEY. MY LORD, Foreign Office, July 9, 1859. I HAVE received your Excellency's despatch of yesterday, stating that Count Walewski had informed you that you might give me the assurance that the Emperor had abandoned the idea of annexing Savoy to France; and I have to instruct your Excellency to state to Count Walewski that Her Majesty's Government highly appreciate the spirit which has prompted His Imperial Majesty thus distinctly to disclaim a project which, while it would have contributed no real benefit to France, would have very materially affected the Emperor's reputation in Europe. For the Powers of Europe not only attach considerable importance to the maintenance of Savoy in its present relation towards Sardinia, but they would also have looked upon any attempt to sever that connection for the augmentation of the French territory as a manifest contradiction of the disinterested policy which the Emperor has declared induced him to engage in the present war. I am, &c. Earl Cowley. J. RUSSELL. No. 6.-Captain Harris to Lord J. Russell.-(Received October 3.) (Extract.) Berne, September 26, 1859. IN my despatch dated the 1st of July, I had the honour to make known to your Lordship the anxiety felt by the Swiss Government respecting the rumour of a proposed cession of Savoy to France, and their wishes for the good offices of Her Majesty's Government in the event of their being needed. This anxiety was in a great measure allayed by your Lordship's declaration in Parliament, stating that France had no intention of making any such acquisition. The President has occasionally expressed to me a fear lest the formation of the proposed Italian Confederation, and the position of the King of Sardinia in it, might interfere with the arrangements made in the Treaties of 1815, for the protection of the south-western frontier of Switzerland. My answer has been that if the Italian Confederation were formed, they would have difficulties enough to contend with, without raising one in that quarter; and that no negotiated change respecting the neutral territory could take effect without the consent of the Powers signataries of the Treaties of 1815. The President told me yesterday that the Federal Council had, on the meeting of the Plenipotentiaries at Zurich, addressed notes to Paris, Turin, and Vienna, inquiring whether the above-mentioned subject would be entered upon at Zurich. They received an answer in the negative from Vienna, but no reply from Paris or Turin. Lord J. Russell. E. A. J. HARRIS. No. 7.-Captain Harris to Lord J. Russell.-(Rec. November 15.) THE President of the Swiss Confederation informs me that some anxiety is still felt by the Federal Council respecting the rumoured transfer of Savoy, alluded to in my despatches of July 1 and of September 26. They have accordingly drawn up a memorial, showing the importance which they attach to the integrity of the south-western frontier of Switzerland being well secured, as contemplated by the Treaties of 1815. This memorial is to be addressed officially to the great Powers signataries of those Treaties, at the Congress which it is said is about to assemble, should the Swiss Government have reason to suppose that the subject will be mooted there. The memorial will in a few days be printed in French, as well as German, when I will forward a copy to your Lordship. Lord J. Russell. I have, &c. E. A. J. HARRIS. No. 8.-Captain Harris to Lord J. Russell.-(Rec. November 22.) Lord J. Russell. I have, &c. E. A. J. HARRIS. No. 9.-Captain Harris to Lord J. Russell.-(Rec. November 24.) (Extract.) Berne, November 21, 1859. I HAVE the honour to transmit to your Lordship the copy of a despatch which 1 received last night, addressed to me by the President of the Confederation on the part of the Federal Council, relative to the neutral territory of Savoy. I also inclose a copy of the Mémoire alluded to in the despatch. I have reason to believe that similar communications have been made to the Representatives of the other Powers who signed the Treaties of 1815. I have had frequently occasion to allude to the anxiety felt by the Swiss Government upon this subject, their reasons for which are fully set forth in the accompanying despatch and Mémoire. I will not obtrude on your Lordship's better judgment my opinions on the statements contained in those documents; but occupied as your Lordship's mind is with weighty matters elsewhere, I may venture briefly to recall to your memory the events which, since 1815, have had an important influence on the position of Switzerland. The adoption of the Constitution of 1848, the result of the gradual advance of the Radical party since the year 1831, although it shook the social relations of this country to their centre, and inflicted hardships upon many, nevertheless by conferring greater power on the Executive, and establishing more uniformity in legislation and finance, imparted a vigour and prosperity to Switzerland which she had never heretofore possessed. Amongst the advantages reaped has been the development of her military strength. In the winter of 1856-57, during the crisis of the Neuchâtel affair, this country placed on foot within a month an army of 200,000 men, well provided with artillery, and confidently prepared to cope with the invading armies of Prussia. Yet from the fact that the rank and file of this force are solely supplied from militia contingents, for which the early drilling and training of the population offer great facilities, it is evident that this army can never become an aggressive force, but one well calculated to maintain the position of independent neutrality which European statesmen are anxious to secure for Switzerland. There is no doubt, however, that the change in the Constitution of this country was obnoxious to the absolute Powers who march with her frontier; and this gave rise to a succession of unpleasant questions at times threatening the peace of Europe, but the firmness and moderation of the Swiss Government, supported at a critical moment by the friendly intervention of England, has enabled Switzerland to weather those storms; and the strictly neutral, and |
