THE MISSION TO ROME. 93 



not dependent upon our occupying Eome at a given 

 date and at the hour we saw proper to fix ; but what 

 we had to do was to be on the watch for, and if 

 necessary prevent, the entry of foreign troops, and be 

 ready to succour a friendly people should danger 

 threaten it. Can the honour of a nation like France 

 be banished because she treats considerately a city 

 which she wishes to take under her protection ? 



In the state in which I found Eome there were 

 two courses open, either to have recourse to force, 

 trampling my instructions under foot and being 

 untrue to the national will ; or to do as I did, and, 

 by standing in the way of an imminent conflict, arrest 

 the unfortunate events which have since occurred 

 there. 



2nd. The negotiations ought not to have been 

 resumed after the collective declaration of May 30th. 

 I think that I have explained clearly enough in the 

 above narrative of facts how I was led to resume 

 negotiations after the reception of another project 

 presented within the dates fixed by the ultimatum, 

 and how the drafting of my agreement, which was the 

 logical outcome of my instructions and of the circum- 

 stances in which I was placed, seemed to me to meet 

 the difficulties which met me on every side. 



It may not be out of place to mention here that 

 the telegraphic order for my recall of May 29th had 

 not reached General Oudinot on the 30th, and that 

 the cause of it could not have been this treaty, which 



