The Polish Insurrection

“June 22, 1863. (To M. Chevalier.)—My dear friend, I do not understand what good can come from an interference by force of arms in the Polish business. I can see how very great injury could arise to ourselves. We draw food for two or three millions of our people yearly from Russia. If your nation goes into such a war it will of course be with the hope of getting some extension of territory out of the squabble. That would no doubt be the case. Germany would fall into confusion, and another ‘confederation’ would arise, in which France would of course have a voice, and her good will must be propitiated by a concession on the Rhine. To this I have no objection. But our Foreign Office would go into convulsions at such an audacious rupture of its cherished traditions. Then as we are not in want of further territory, and could not therefore share in the spoil, the danger is that we should quarrel with you. I hope the chimerical scheme will not be persevered in.”