EUROPEAN CONGRESS. 



393 



to participate in a Congress, the object of 

 which would be to effect the modifications 

 which might be considered necessary in the 

 treaties of 1815, which, however, none the 

 less continue the foundation upon which the 

 political edifice of Europe at present rests. 

 The ministers of the various countries should 

 prepare the propositions which would be sub- 

 mitted to the Congress. 



The most sympathetic reply was received 

 from the King of Italy. The Government of 

 Italy has fully and openly espoused the nation- 

 ality principle, to which the new kingdom 

 owes its origin, and from the exertion of 

 which it expects the annexation to Italy of 

 Venetia and Rome. The King of Italy, there- 

 fore, not only accepts an invitation, which 

 seems to presuppose the truth of the nation- 

 ality principle, but, in emphatic language, ex- 

 presses his concurrence with the views of the 

 French Emperor. lie is even more outspoken 

 on the rightful aspirations of the nations than 

 Louis Napoleon, and looks upon congresses, 

 like that proposed by Napoleon, as a great 

 progress in the history of mankind. He says in 

 his reply, dated November 22d : 



A permanent struggle has been established in Eu- 

 rope between public opinion and the state of things 

 created by the treaties of 1815. Hence has arisen a 

 sickly state of things which will increase unless Euro- 

 pean* order is placed upon the basis of the principles 

 of nationality and of liberty, which are the very es- 

 sence of the life of modern nations. 



In presence of a situation so dangerous to the prog- 

 ress of civilization and to the peace of the world, your 

 Imperial Majesty has become the interpreter of a gen- 

 eral sentiment by proposing a Congress to settle the 

 rights of sovereigns as well as those of nations. 



I adhere with pleasure to the proposal of your Im- 

 perial Majesty. My concurrence and that of my peo- 

 ple are assured to the realization of this project, which 

 will mark a great progress in the history of mankind. 



As soon as the international conferences take place, 

 I shall take part in person, or at least send a repre- 

 sentative. 



Italy will appear at the Congress in a spirit of per- 

 fect equity and moderation. She is convinced that 

 the justice and the respect of legitimate rights are the 

 true foundations upon which a new balance of power 

 of Europe can be founded. 



The King of Portugal, the son-in-law of 

 Victor Emanuel, fully agrees with the views 

 of his father-in-law. In his reply (dated No- 

 vember 18th) he says : 



It is an agreeable duty therefore to me to announce 

 to your Imperial Majesty that I adhere without hesi- 

 tation to your conciliatory proposition, and that I sub- 

 scribe with all my heart to the sentiments which have 

 inspired it. 



Congresses after war are ordinarily the consecration 

 of the advantages of the strongest, and the treaties 

 which result, based upon facts rather than upon 

 rights, create forced situations, the result of which is 

 that general uneasiness which produces violent pro- 

 testations and armed reclamations. 



A Congress before war, with the view of averting 

 war, is, in my opinion, a noble thought of progress. 

 Whatever may be the issue, to France will always be- 

 long the glory of having laid the foundation o'f this 

 new and highly philosophical principle. 



The youthful King of Greece, who had so 

 recently ascended a throne, which was erected 



on the basis of "national aspirations" and 

 upon the ruins of the historical rights of an- 

 other dynasty, and of treaties, could not but 

 applaud the idea of the Imperial Congress. 

 Says King George, in his letter dated Novem- 

 ber 26th : 



This appeal to conciliation which your Majesty has 

 just made in the interest of European order has been 

 inspired by views too generous and too elevated not to 

 find in me'the most sympathetic reception. 



The noble thought which predominates therein could 

 not be better enhanced than by the frank language and 

 the judicious considerations with which your Majesty 

 has accompanied your proposition. 



In accepting it without reserve, I fully share the 

 hopes which I find expressed in your Imperial Majes- 

 ty's letter. The meeting of the Congress will perhaps 

 be the best solution of the grave questions which justly 

 preoccupy all minds in Europe, and will contribute to 

 develop the general prosperity by the maintenance of 

 tranquillity. Every one feels, indeed, that it is neces- 

 sary to take into account the spirit of the age, the legi- 

 timate aspirations of nations, the circumstances of the 

 time, and to endeavor by all possible means to secure 

 the future by regulating the present, so as to eliminate 

 every element of trouble and discord. 



The common work to which your Majesty invites the 

 chiefs of the European States would be, beyond dis- 

 pute, one of the greatest onward movements of our 

 day. Its success would realize wishes long since 

 formed by the friends of humanity and the noblest 

 minds. 



And, with a view to a future collapse of the 

 Turkish empire, he, in conclusion, flatters 

 himself with the hope that the interests and 

 rights of the Christians in the East would find 

 in the Emperor of the French a generous de- 

 fender in the future International Congress. 



The King of the Belgians, who received his 

 own throne from a successful revolution, and 

 expects another one for a son-in-law (Archduke 

 Maximilian) from the arms of the French Em- 

 peror, is of course not opposed to the Congress. 

 He assures Napoleon (November 20th) that his 

 Government would be quite inclined, in so far 

 as it could do so, to join in the attempt to set- 

 tle the existing causes of anxiety in Europe by 

 pacific agreement. The King of the Nether- 

 lands (November 29th) expresses himself like- 

 wise willing to join all the other sovereigns of 

 Europe in realizing the noble object Louis Na- 

 poleon had in view. The King of Denmark 

 eagerly embraced the invitation, as he hoped 

 the Congress would " assure the future of the 

 Danish monarchy," and the Emperor would 

 sustain the Danish claims, as Denmark had al- 

 ways been the constant ally of the Emperor. 

 Switzerland also accepted with eagerness the 

 overture made by Louis Napoleon, for says the 

 letter of the President (November 23d) : 



The Swiss Confederation, to which nature as well as 

 history and treaties has assigned a neutral position in 

 the midst of Europe, knows how to appreciate all the 

 benefits of peace. It understands the inestimable value 

 of a free and reciprocal consecration of the rights and 

 duties of each the true base of a sincere and cordial 

 understanding between the nations. We can only, 

 therefore, accept with eagerness the overture your 

 Majesty has deigned to make. 



Spain hoped the Congress might aid her in 

 the recovery of Gibraltar, and although her 



