110 



ITALY. 



not be admitted except as a starting-point tow- 

 ard the solution of the Venetian question." 

 The complications between Austria and Prussia 

 naturally .led to negotiations by Italy with 

 Prussia for the conclusion of a defensive and 

 offensive alliance. On March 9th, the govern- 

 ment gave to its representative in Berlin in- 

 structions to sign the alliance with Prussia. 

 On April 29th, General La Marmora issued a 

 circular dispatch stating that while Italy was in 

 a state of perfect quiet and the army on the 

 peace footing, Austria had made threatening 

 armaments in Italy, and had thereby compelled 

 the Italian Government to make the necessary 

 preparations for war. On April 30th, the 

 Chamber of Deputies, by a unanimous vote save 

 one, authorized the government, until the end 

 of July, to meet all the expenses which were 

 necessary for the defence of the country, by ex- 

 traordinary means. This was supplemented by 

 another resolution (May 9th) authorizing the 

 government, until the end of July, to provide 

 by royal decrees for the defence and safety of 

 the state. The government, besides putting the 

 regular army on the war footing, authorized 

 the enrolment of volunteers and the mobiliza- 

 tion of the national guard. The volunteers 

 were placed under the chief command of Gen- 

 eral Garibaldi, who accepted the command by 

 the following letter : 



CAPRERA, Stay llth. 



M. LE MINISTRE : I accept with true gratitude the 

 dispositions which you have taken and his majesty 

 has sanctioned relative to the volunteer corps. I am 

 thankful to you for the trust you manifest in me in 

 giving me the command ; and you will be good 

 enough to express to the king my sentiments. I 

 hope soon to coSperate with our glorious army in 

 accomplishing the destinies of the country. I thank 

 you for your courtesy in making this communication 

 to me accept, etc. 



(Signed) G. GARIBALDI. 



On June 18th, Italy declared war against 

 Austria, ad on June 20th, the king issued the 

 following manifesto : 



Seven years have already passed since Austria at- 

 tacked my States because I had supported the com- 

 mon cause of the country in the councils of Europe. 

 [ took up the sword to defend my throne, the liberty 

 of my people, the honor of the Italian name, and to 

 fight for the rights of the nation. Victory was in 

 favor of right. The valor of the army, the aid of the 

 volunteers, the concord and wisdom of the people, 

 and the assistance of a magnanimous ally, gained the 

 almost complete independence and liberty of Italy. 

 Supreme reasons, we were obliged to respect, pre- 

 vented us from at that time accomplishing that just 

 and glorious enterprise. One of the noblest prov- 

 inces of Italy, united by the desires of the population 

 to my crown, and which its heroic resistance and 

 continual protest against foreign dominion rendered 

 especially dear and sacred to us, remained in the 

 hands of Austria. Though sorrowful at heart, I ab- 

 stained from troubling Europe, which desired peace. 

 My Government occupied itself with improving the 

 work of interior organization, with opening sources 

 of public prosperity, and with fortifying the country 

 by land and by sea, awaiting a favorable opportunity 

 to accomplish the independence of Venetia. Al- 

 though waiting was not without danger, nevertheless 

 we understood how to keep shut within our hearts 

 our feelings as Italians, and our just impatience; and 



thus were preserved intact the right of the nation 

 and the dignity of the crown and of Parliament, in 

 order that Europe might understand what was due 

 to Italy. Austria suddenly reenforcing her troops 

 upon our frontier, and provoking us by her hostile 

 and threatening attitude, has- come to disturb the 

 pacific task of the reorganization of the kingdom. I 

 have replied by again taking up arms, and you have 

 afforded the world the grand sight of hastening with 

 promptitude and enthusiasm into the army to enlist 

 among the volunteers. Nevertheless, when friendly 

 powers endeavored to settle the difficulties by a con- 

 gress, I gave a last pledge of my feelings to Europe, 

 and hastened to accept the proposal. Austria again 

 refused, this time rejecting negociations and all 

 agreement, affording thus a fresh proof that if she 

 confides in her strength she does not rely equally 

 upon the goodness of her cause and of her right. 

 You, also, Italians, may trust in your strength, look- 

 ing with pride upon your valiant army and strong 

 navy; but you may rely still more firmly upon the 

 sacredness of your right, whose triumph is hence- 

 forth infallible. We are supported by the judgment 

 of public opinion and by the sympathy of Europe, 

 which knows that Italy, independent and secure in 

 her territory, will become a guaranty for peace and 

 order. Italians, I hand over the government of the 

 state to Prince Carignan, and again take up the 

 eagles of Getta and Marengo, of Palestro and San 

 Martino ; I feel that I shall accomplish the vows made 

 at the tomb of my high-minded father ; I wish to be 

 once more the first soldier of Italian independence. 

 (Signed) VICTOR EMMANUEL. 



The king also issued a proclamation to the 

 National Guard, which says : 



I leave the regency of the kingdom to the Prince 

 of Carignan to fight anew the final battles for the 

 liberty and independence of Italy. While our forces 

 by land and sea secure the rights of the nation 

 against threats and provocations of Austria, you will 

 keep the nation organized and arranged, in order 

 that it may strengthen her liberties and secure re* 

 spect for the laws, thus preparing itself worthy for 

 the glorious future which awaits us. It is vou who 

 have constituted the nation by your will. Preserve 

 it intact now by discipline and arms. 



Citizens, I confidently intrust to you the guardian- 

 ship of public security and order. I go where the 

 voice of Italy calls. VICTOR EMMANUEL, 



For the progress of military operations, see 

 the article GERMAN-ITALIAN WAE. The follow- 

 ing are the most important points of the treaty 

 of peace which was concluded on October 3d : 



From the day on which the ratifications of the 

 treaty are exchanged perpetual peace and friendship 

 shall exist between his majesty the King of Italy and 

 his majesty the Emperor of Austria, their heirs and 

 successors, their states and subjects. 



The conditions stipulated at Cormons for the recip- 

 rocal restitution of Austrian and Itsjian prisoners of 

 war are maintained. 



The Emperor of the French having declared in the 

 Treaty of Vienna, on the 24th of August, that so far 

 as he is concerned Venetia is acquired for Italy, his 

 majesty the Emperor of Austria consents to the union 

 of Venetia with Italy in the form determined by the 

 Austro-French Treaty of Vienna above mentioned. 

 The frontiers of the Venetian provinces ceded to Italy 

 are the administrative frontiers of the said provinces 

 under Austrian domination, 



A military commission instituted by the high con- 

 tracting parties will be deputed to trace out the boun- 

 dary lines with the shortest possible delay. The ter- 

 ritories which are still occupied by the imperial and 

 royal troops by virtue of the armistice concluded on 

 the 12th August last, will be evacuated by thos 

 troops after the ratification of peace, and the <w^ 



