THE MISSION TO ROME. 49 



given to the three commissioners of the Eoman Con- 

 stituent Assembly, and the communications which I 

 have thought it incumbent upon me to make to the 

 Assembly itself, meet, without exception, all the objec- 

 tions raised in your note, and whenever you see fit to 

 complete the negotiations by sending your com- 

 missioners invested with the necessary authorisations, 

 it will be very easy, in my opinion, for us to come to 

 a complete understanding and settle the basis of a 

 definite arrangement, which must, of course, be one 

 such as will quite satisfy the two contracting parties. 

 This declaration, which my private secretary will be 

 able to supplement with a few verbal observations, 

 will, I am sure, dissipate the unfortunate misunder- 

 standings which may have hitherto arisen upon either 

 side. For my own part, I have been, still am, and 

 shall still remain desirous of clearing up the obscurities 

 which have hung about the question, just as I hope 

 that my language will destroy any lingering doubts 

 which you may have felt as to the result you have in 

 view. There is only one point which could in any way 

 make you feel anxious, and that is the idea that we 

 are intent upon imposing on you by force the obligation 

 to receive us as friends. Friendship and violence do 

 not go together, so that it would be illogical of us to 

 begin by cannonading you as a preliminary to getting 

 you to look upon us as your natural protectors. Such 

 a contradiction in terms does not enter into my inten- 

 tions, or into those of my Government or of our army. 



VOL. I. E 



