Count Wydenbruck to Mr. Seward.
Washington,
May 27, 1866.
Sir: The imperial government of Austria having
become acquainted through the daily press with a circular of General
Marmora’s, which endeavors to represent the government of the King,
Victor Emanuel, as obliged to take measures of defence against the
threatening projects of Austria, the imperial government has addressed
to its representatives in Paris, London, and St. Petersburg a despatch
demonstrating the futility of these accusations.
My government has deemed it advisable to transmit to its missions a copy
of this despatch, with instructions to communicate the same to the
governments to whom they have the honor to be accredited. In compliance
with this order, I beg leave to transmit to you, sir, a copy of the said
despatch in the enclosure.
I have the honor to remain, sir, with the highest consideration, your
obedient obedient servant,
Hon. William H. Seward,
&c., &c., &c.
[Translation.]
Copy of a
despatch to the imperial missions at Paris, London, and St.
Petersburg, dated Vienna
,
April 27, 1866.
I have the honor to transmit, annexed, copy of the despatch to Count
Karolyi, the sending of which I announced to you by telegram
yesterday.
We have given too many pledges of our pacific intentions; it is too
evident that neither the policy of the imperial government nor the
interests of Austria are in accord with aggressive projects to admit
of doubt in Europe of the sincerity of our language. In face of
preparations making in Italy on a vast scale, and when the conquest
of one of our provinces has long been an avowed aim of the policy
pursued by the government of King Victor Emanuel, there would need
be inconceivable blindness on our part were we not to take
precautions indispensable to our defence. Besides our land frontier,
we have on the side of Italy a long stretch of coast to protect. Our
troops, distributed as they were throughout the interior of the
empire, and reduced to their minimum, would not suffice to cover all
the exposed points, which often are separated by long distances. In
abandoning ourselves to a false security, we should only invite
attack on our dismantled frontiers. We have, therefore, ordered
various movements of troops, and the replacing of our army in Italy
on a complete footing.
These measures, I repeat, are only of most strictly defensive
character, and it does not enter the thought of the imperial
government to provoke a war with any power.
You can renew this assurance in the most formal manner; but we regard
it at the same time to be an imperative duty to neglect nothing to
place ourselves in a condition to repel armed invasion.
No cabinet, I believe, would take upon itself the responsibility of
advising us to act otherwise, for none could be willing, in the
actual condition of things, to guarantee the inviolability of our
frontiers.
Receive, sir, &c.