THE MISSION TO ROME. 35 



ment should happen not to be what I believe them to 

 be, I* do not hesitate to ask you to recall me, for if I 

 had not my liberty of conduct and was not free to act 

 as circumstances might dictate in the midst of this 

 very complicated crisis my position would be unten- 

 able. I shall continue therefore to act without hesita- 

 tion, and in spite of all material and personal obstacles, 

 until M. de la Tour d' Auvergne has given you by word 

 of mouth the details which it is impossible for me to 

 furnish you with by letter, and until you have informed 

 me by telegraph, yes or no, whether I am in agreement 

 with you. 



"It is of set purpose that I have altered clause 3 

 of the draft of arrangement. I have endeavoured to 

 reduce it to its most simple expression by eliminating 

 all that is not urgent, and by avoiding the two dangers 

 which were pointed out to me that of formally recog- 

 nising the Koman Eepublic, and that of exciting the 

 susceptibilities of Gaeta by alluding to the conflict 

 between the Holy Father and the liberties of Koine, 

 I came to the conclusion, after mature consideration, 

 that by maintaining this clause as it stood we should 

 at once shut the door upon any attempt at conciliation. 



"F. DE LES^EPS. 



"P.S. I have just come in from head-quarters. I 

 have read this despatch to M. d'Harcourt. He pro- 

 tests against the inaction of the army, without, how- 

 ever, setting himself against the carrying out of my 



