Nevertheless Cavour declared: "I believe
I am justified in proclaiming aloud, in the presence of Parliament, of
the nation, and of Europe, that if there has been provocation it was
offered by Austria." As shown by Orsi, the Italian historian, the great
minister maintained this attitude as long as it was possible to hold
back from the actual conflict.
Cavour insisted that Austria must be the aggressive party, for in the
treaty with Napoleon III it had been stipulated that France would come
to the help of Sardinia only in case of the latter being attacked by
Austria. Hence Cavour was obliged to seek every means of putting his
country into the attitude of the provoked party. How many
disappointments, uncertainties, and anxieties crowded those days, from
February to the end of April, 1859! In order to understand the enormous
difficulties overcome by Cavour it would be necessary to follow
literally, day by day, the history of that period. In March he repaired
to Paris to ascertain Napoleon's action: it was too evident, however,
that French public opinion was unfavorable to war, and the Emperor was
wavering.
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