Chapter 262
Chapter 262: Anglo-Russian Attitude
The words of the Austro-Hungarian Empire's ambassador, Christian, denying the legitimacy of the Kingdom of Italy's existence and supporting the Pope's independence, further fueled tensions between the two countries. Italy had long aspired to national unity, and Christian's comments were seen as an affront to their sovereignty.
The history of Italy had been marked by division and foreign rule for centuries, making the idea of a united Italian nation a powerful and emotional aspiration. The rise of Napoleon had kindled national consciousness in Italy, and the people saw the opportunity to unite their fragmented regions under one banner. France, under Napoleon's rule, had been a progressive force, and many Italian nobles had rallied to his cause.
The heated exchange between Ambassador Christian and the Italian high-level officials left the two countries in a state of heightened tension. King Emmanuel II and the Italian government firmly rejected Austria-Hungary's demands.
In Florence, at the British Embassy, Italian Foreign Minister Giuseppe implored Ambassador Johnson to help Italy. He argued that if Italy were invaded by the Austro-Hungarian Empire, it would destabilize Europe, which wouldn't be in the best interests of the United Kingdom.
However, Ambassador Johnson, concerned about the ongoing Franco-Prussian War and the balance of power in Europe, advised Italy to abandon its quest for the Pope's unity with Italy. He believed that Italy should avoid conflict with Austria-Hungary at this critical time.
Johnson's stance disappointed Giuseppe, who couldn't accept giving up on the unification of Italy. For Italy, Rome held immense symbolic and cultural significance, and they couldn't compromise on their goal of national unity.
As Giuseppe left the embassy, he realized that Italy would have to proceed without British support. The Kingdom of Italy was determined to act, as they feared that if they missed this opportunity, they might never have another chance to secure Rome as part of Italy.
On August 23, Italy officially declared war on the Papal State, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire followed suit. The news of this conflict ignited excitement and speculation across Europe.
Russia, however, found the situation perplexing. Tsar Alexander II called an emergency meeting to discuss the evolving European landscape. He was puzzled by Austria-Hungary's sudden declaration of war on Italy, considering that Austria-Hungary had been focusing on guarding against Russia and Prussia in the east.
The Russian Foreign Minister explained that Austria-Hungary's primary motive was to prevent the complete unification of Italy, which was seen as a significant threat to their security.
The Minister of War added that there hadn't been any significant troop movements along the Austro-Hungarian border, indicating that Austria-Hungary might believe that it didn't need its main forces to deal with Italy.
Tsar Alexander II expressed his regret over the situation. Russia was interested in maintaining a balance of power in Europe, but they couldn't interfere in the war between Italy and Austria-Hungary. Russia's primary focus was on addressing the issues in its eastern territories and consolidating its power there.
In the end, both Russia and the United Kingdom opted to remain neutral in the conflict between Italy and Austria-Hungary, leaving the two nations to face off against each other. The balance of power in Europe continued to shift as these tensions simmered on the continent.