Make France Great Again

Chapter 16 The New Republic's Diplomatic Dilemma

Palmerston's analysis based on cold diplomacy was indeed a moderate blow to Albert, but it did not mean that he would give up the plan brewed in his heart.

As Palmerston said, an empire at its worst is better than a republic.

Who knows whether the rulers of the republic on the other side of the ocean will once again abolish his previous promise to European countries not to launch revolutions. The not-so-glorious meeting in 1815 is an eternal pain in their hearts.

The core interest of the United Kingdom lies in the fact that Europe is stable and at the same time there is a certain confrontation, so that the United Kingdom can better maintain its presence in the European continent.

Prince Albert picked up the aluminum-plated steel fork to take the French snail out of the shell, and said casually, "Has the ambassador to France ever looked for you?"

Albert's casual question really made Palmerston's relaxed spirit tense up again, and he couldn't help but feel a slight coolness on his forehead.

The ambassador of the new French Republic to France did look for him, but the meeting between the two was private, so it stands to reason that Wang Fu should not have known about it.

The politician's keen sense told Palmerston that Prince Albert's inquiry was just a coincidence, but if he guessed wrong...

Palmerston, who pondered for a moment in his mind, immediately admitted: "The ambassador to France and I have indeed met in private!"

Later, he added: "But he not only met me, I heard that he also met the Iron Duke (Wellington) before I met!" 【Note 1】

There was no surprise on Albert's face. He nodded calmly and said, "I have also heard about the fact that France sent a special envoy to meet the Iron Duke. But..."

Prince Albert paused, turned to Palmerston with a meaningful smile and said, "The ambassador to France meeting with the foreign minister in private seems to have overstepped diplomacy itself! Of course, the royal family has no right to interfere with the affairs of the cabinet. "

After hearing Albert's voice, Queen Victoria, who was sitting on the other side of Albert, also put down the knife and fork in her hand and looked at Viscount Palmerston.

Even Palmerston, who was the foreign minister, couldn't help feeling a little flustered under the husband's warning and the queen's gaze.

The royal family does not have the right to interfere with the cabinet, but the royal family has the right to influence the cabinet.

Every sentence that follows is a major event that affects Palmerston's career, and he must respond more cautiously.

"Your Highness, the ambassador to France hopes that the United Kingdom can recognize the French Republic!" Palmerston decisively told Albert what happened that day.

"Then, Viscount, what's your opinion?" Prince Albert looked at Palmerston and said in an unhurried manner.

"I think the United Kingdom should be more cautious. We should neither recognize nor oppose it (referring to the French Republic)!" Palmerston replied carefully.

After listening to Palmerston's response, Albert neither agreed nor objected. He picked up the steel fork and tapped the snail shell lightly, as if talking to himself: "The outer shell is solid, but it only needs A little external force can break through! Our neighbors also need some external force to change, and the republic that has been under a vigorous revolution is not liked by Europe!"

Palmerston immediately understood what Albert meant, and he expressed sympathy for Lamartine, the head of the republic on the other side.

"By the way!" Prince Albert said: "Mr. Viscount, I wonder if you know Jérôme Bonaparte?"

Palmerston was stunned for a moment and responded, "Your Highness, are you talking about Jerome Bonaparte, Napoleon's younger brother?"

"No!" Prince Albert shook his head and said, "I'm talking about Jerome Bonaparte's son!"

"Sorry! For the younger generation of the Bonaparte family,

I don't understand. ’ Palmerston had Jerome Bonaparte in his heart.

"If nothing else happens, this guy will be active in the political arena as the leader of the new generation of the Bonaparte family!" Prince Albert muttered softly: "The blood of the Bonaparte family is really inseparable from politics!"

"Your Highness, does the United Kingdom's Foreign Office..." Palmerston immediately understood Prince Albert's intentions.

Prince Albert shook his head slightly and responded: "If the situation in France is really as you said, then no matter how we push it, it will not help! This will arouse the resentment of the neighbors, and sometimes a move of leisure may reap unexpected results. No Needs too much attention."

"Yes!" replied Palmerston.

"Tell me about the situation in Russia! Is our European military police jumping up and down to protect his exquisite "toy" again!" Albert said mockingly.

Since the Vienna Conference in 1815, it has been more than 30 years since the Holy Alliance headed by the Russian Empire began to defend the European monarchy order, and the United Kingdom has also changed from its original support to its antipathy.

The greedy Slavs have eroded an unknown amount of land in the coat of maintaining the Holy Alliance. They, who claim to be European military police, are indeed doing the things of Eastern European invaders.

The Holy Alliance really needs to change!

"Since the successive revolutions in Austria and Prussia, the Russian ambassador to Britain has conveyed Nicholas' orders..." Palmerston dispatched troops from the Russian Empire after the February Revolution, intending to control the Russian Empire while intervening in the revolution. Prince Albert was notified of the news from the Principality of Lachia.

"It seems that Tsar Nicholas is still immersed in his fantasy!" Prince Albert said calmly: "It seems that the gatekeepers in Europe can no longer stop him!"

"Yes!" Palmerston could not help sighing inwardly.

The former Ottoman Empire has grown old, and no country in the Near East seems to be able to stop its footsteps.

But Britain was not ready for war with the Russian Empire.

"We need a friend who can contain a certain country! Even if this friend has done something..." Prince Albert said implicitly.

Palmerston understood immediately, and the two looked at each other and smiled for a long time without speaking.

...

PS: 1. After the revolution in February 1848, Lamartine, who served as the interim head of the Second Republic, first issued the "Letter to Europe" to European countries, promising France to recognize the established facts of the Vienna Conference in 1815, and to send a special envoy to the United Kingdom in April The Duke of Killington conveyed goodwill and hoped that the United Kingdom would recognize the nascent republic.

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