Diplomatic Relations
July 25th, 1862
Somewhere Between Turin and Florence
Prime Minister Cavour was riding a special coach created for the ceremonial first train on a new railroad to Florence. The car, unlike most of the time, had upholstered seats and was relatively comfortable. A few other members of Cavour’s inner circle and railroad officials were along for the ride. As much as the Italian Prime Minister enjoyed celebrating the progress (albeit slow) of his infrastructure program, the space between Cavour’s ears was occupied with more than just the cost of ties and tracks.
Cavour’s government had recently received a dispatch from Edouard Thovenel, the Foreign Minister of Napoleon III, which indicated his government’s interest in tidying up a troublesome issue in Franco-Italian relations. Thovenel told Cavour that the French Emperor was prepared to withdraw French troops from the Papal States in exchange for Italian guarantees to protect Papal sovereignty. A French withdrawal from Rome was the first step towards the establishment of the Italian capital in the Eternal City, its proper place.
The Italian government had scored great foreign relations victories in the last six months after Prussia and Russia extended recognition to the young kingdom. Diplomatic relations with the Prussian government came at the cost of a pact in which Prussia would remain neutral in the case of an Italian war with Austria and Italy would remain neutral in the case of a Prussian war with France. The pact was smoothed over with Napoleon III after Ambassador Nigra forwarded a flattering note to the Emperor. Napoleon III’s grandiose opinions of himself and his role in Europe made him especially vulnerable to such simple tricks, and Cavour concerned himself more with results than methods. Nevertheless, Thovenel was a willing servant of Napoleon III, and as the living patron saint of European nationalism, the French emperor dispatched his Foreign minister to do what the Second Empire could to aid France’s client state to the southeast.
The train passed over a buckle in the tracks with a jolt. Startled, Cavour looked at his watch. If the train was on schedule, he would arrive in Florence at any time, but the likelihood of that was slim. Cavour had every intention of seizing Rome if the French left. After all, in the spring of the previous year, his government passed legislation declaring Rome the true Italian capital and any agreement made with Thovenel would be treated creatively. Napoleon’s health was failing and he was becoming feeble and malleable in the hands of others, be they his inner circle or external players. As time went on, Cavour was increasingly effective in wrenching concessions from the French government. There was a strong danger of like-minded shadow forces within Napoleon’s government usurping power, and that danger would be given proper attention in the days to come. Anyway, with Rome in Italian hands Cavour would be able to focus his government’s foreign affairs on Austria without having to watch his back in Latium.
The train pulled into the station, and a local band began to play. The Florentines gathered to see the opening of the new railroad received the ceremonial car with great flourish. Local dignitaries made speeches praising the new railroad and the prosperity that it would bring. Cavour spoke, outlining his program for expansion of infrastructure throughout Tuscany and Italy as a nation. After his remarks, festivities continued into the evening.
As Cavour prepared to leave for his pension, a courier arrived. “Your Excellency, I come on behalf of General Cialdini with an urgent message. Six days ago Garibaldi called for volunteers at Marsala to create an army of liberation. He is traveling throughout Sicily gathering his forces, and our informers indicate that the brigand intends to march on Rome. General Cialdini believes that it will be some time until Garibaldi will be able to leave Sicily. The General requests political instructions.” Cavour sat down, aghast. He started to shake his head, slowly at first, then violently. He pounded his fist on his knee. “ Damn that man! Damn him, damn him, damn him! Courier, what is your name?” The courier, standing at attention replied, “Your Excellency, my name is Lieutenant Umberto Regalo.” “Lieutenant Regalo, inform General Cialdini that I will consult my ministers and until further notice he is to prevent Garibaldi from moving across the strait but not to attack him. Thank you for your service.” The courier left and Cavour retired to a strange bed.
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