Chapter 56: A False Cheque

  Chapter 56 The Blank Check

The news of the occupation of Lombardy by the Kingdom of Sardinia reached France and sent shockwaves through the provisional government.

The French supported the Sardinian Kingdom to go to war with Austria just to expel Austria from Italy and make Lombardy and Venice independent, but there was no intention to let the Sardinian Kingdom unify Italy.

Ever since receiving the news that the Sardinian Kingdom had occupied Lombardy without bloodshed, the head of the Provisional Government, Alphonse de Lamartine, was in a bad mood.

Austria is at least one of the four most powerful countries in continental Europe, but it was so weak that it gave up Lombardy?

The correct way of operation, obviously and the Sardinian army to fight a defeat, and then unable to suppress the domestic rebellion, forced to give up the Italian region, and the Kingdom of Sardinia also because of heavy losses in the war, unable to annex the Lombardy region.

The script that they all made up was actually changed right at the beginning. The group of screenwriters didn’t have the right to change it back, and the investors kicked them out early.

“Your Excellency the President, the Austrian Ambassador, Mr. Mentenide, is here.”

The valet’s voice rang in his ears, and Alphonse came back to his senses and said, “Invite him in.”

After a burst of the usual pleasantries on a diplomatic occasion, Mentenide steered the conversation to the topic at hand.

“What do you think of the Italian problem, Mr. President?”

Alphonse smiled slightly, the fact that the Austrians were willing to send a representative to consult with them was a good opportunity to increase France’s influence.

“Mr. Mentenide, every nation has the right to pursue national independence, I think that letting the Lombardy region become an independent nation is a good choice!”

Nate Ned has cursed in his heart, combined with the fact that this is not French territory, you are not heartbroken? Lombardy and Venice is a financial and tax important land, for Austria is not able to easily give up!

“Mr. President, I think this issue should be considered in different situations, the Lombardy region is an inseparable part of the Austrian Empire, we will not make any concessions on this issue.

How about, let’s discuss the rest of Italy, such as the division of power over the Kingdom of Sardinia, we should have a common language in this regard!”

Divide Italy, the French are must be interested ah, even now the provisional government is busy with domestic struggle, but also know that this is not to be absent.

Unified Italy is not in the interests of Austria, the same is not in the interests of the French, the Mediterranean Sea is too small to accommodate so many great powers.

If Austria was not willing to give up the Lombardy region, then the war with the Kingdom of Sardinia would certainly continue.

The Austrian ambassador came to the door, and it was clear that the division of Italy was only to exchange benefits with France, so that the French government would give up its support for the Kingdom of Sardinia.

Alphonse didn’t have much of a choice, the battle that took place in Lombardy, he had already figured out that there was no firefight between the two sides at all, which meant that the Austrian army didn’t suffer any losses.

Unless there was foreign support, he didn’t think Sardinia could win against Austria, the gap between the two sides’ strengths was too big, which couldn’t be compensated by individual ability.

It was impossible for the provisional government to provide too much support to Sardinia, besides, what benefits could be gained by supporting Sardinia?

France wants to monopolize Italy, but Alphonse does not have that kind of ambition.

Although the Vienna system has collapsed, but the Russians have not forgotten the warning, the British are also staring at the side, if this step is taken, and to take on the European continent alone.

“Mr. Mentenide, what division is felt to be more reasonable?” Alphonse asked with concern

Since the Austrians want to use the interests of the Kingdom of Sardinia to buy them, then look at the offer before saying, as long as the price is right backstabbing the Kingdom of Sardinia is not impossible.

Anyway, at this time, France and Sardinia Kingdom are not yet allied, the two sides are just verbalizing their agreement, there is no pressure of betrayal.

“Austria obtains Genoa and Turin area, the rest of the area belongs to France, the two countries are allied together against international pressure!”

After saying that, Mentenide picked up a pen and drew a line on the map, dividing the Kingdom of Sardinia into two, from the area point of view both sides are considered to be equally divided.

Alphonse’s face changed, he did not expect the Austrians to have such a big appetite, actually want to eat the Sardinian Kingdom in one bite.

On the surface, France picked up a big bargain this time, Austria undertook to fight with the main army of Sardinia Kingdom, the French just waited for the end of the war and sent troops to occupy it.

But in fact it is not so, Sardinia Kingdom’s essence of the region in Turin and Genoa, gathered more than eight layers of the country’s industry.

If these two places fell into the hands of Austria, then France wanted to take over again will be difficult. In this era, France’s military strength was not superior to Austria.

Alphonse opened his mouth and said: ”Mr. Mentenide, I’m afraid this won’t work. The best areas of the Kingdom of Sardinia ……”

……

Ask for what you want and pay for what you get.

The order Mentenide received was to stall the French from providing support to the Sardinian Kingdom, as for dividing the Sardinian Kingdom it was just a front.

Austria has a lot of internal problems and Franz will not expand until they are dealt with.

Moreover, if history had not changed, by June, when the proletarian uprising in Paris broke out, the French would be left to fend for themselves and would no longer have the strength to support the Kingdom of Sardinia.

When the uprising was suppressed, the French government changed again and a new round of political struggle began, which would last until the restoration of Napoleon III.

The so-called division of spheres of influence was just an empty check.

Alphonse was not stupid, he also knew that the Austrians proposed the division of the Kingdom of Sardinia may have problems, but now the provisional government urgently need to make achievements to ease the domestic conflicts.

Both sides can be said to be a hit and miss, even if it is a blank check, as long as the French have the strength, the same check can be realized.

Any treaty in favor of France would be an achievement of the provisional government, and it would be good to divert the attention of the country.

Both sides fought a direct and protracted war, in addition to dividing up the Italian regions. Alphonse also needed Austria to recognize the legitimacy of the Provisional Government, as well as to abolish the yoke imposed on France by the Vienna system.

Such issues were used to negotiate terms. In this era, the French were very isolated diplomatically, and the Provisional Government desperately needed to be recognized by the world.

The much-criticized July dynasty was not actually wrong in its diplomatic approach. From the beginning of the war against France, the French government acted as the public enemy of Europe, and it was impossible not to play the grandson.

The Provisional Government naturally could not be tough, just look at the reaction of the Russians, if there is a gold master to give money, gray animals are killed in Paris.

……

(End of chapter)