Queen Victoria to the Earl of Malmesbury

THE POSITION OF FRANCE

Windsor Castle, 3rd May 1859.

The Queen has carefully read the enclosed draft. She thinks that, without saying anything offensive to France, this important document would not place matters before that Power in the world in accordance with the facts, and would lead to erroneous inferences if it left out altogether, as it does, any reference to the responsibility which France has had in bringing about the present state of affairs.... Austria and Sardinia are spoken of as the offenders, and blamed, not without sufficient ground, for the parts which they have respectively acted, and France is treated as if standing on a line with us in fostering civilisation, liberty, and peace. The inference would be that we forsake her in her noble course, and deserve again the name of "perfide Albion."

The Queen would ask Lord Malmesbury to consider this. For the sake of showing how she thinks the omissions dangerous to our position might be supplied, she has added some pencil remarks.

Footnote 33: I.e., if the despatch were to abstain from reprobating the French policy.