Jozé Maria de Cazal Ribeiro to Count de Lavradio and the Chiefs of his Most Faithful Majesty’s Missions, May 29, 1866

[Circular.—Translation.]

Most Excellent Sir: By a decree, under date of 29th ultimo, his Majesty the King was pleased to confide to my care the department of foreign affairs, as has already been communicated to your excellency on the 11th instant. In the fulfilment of the duties of this office I have had on several occasions the honor of laying before the representatives of the nation the principles adopted by the cabinet regarding international relations and foreign policy in the present state of affairs. These principles, which your excellency will find fully developed in my speeches published in the Diario de Lisboa, Nos. 107, 111, 113, and 115, may be résuméd as follows:

1. To extend and develop the commercial relations between our own country and the other nations of the civilized world, and to strengthen and consolidate by more intimate community the bonds of mutual friendship and good will which happily exist between us and those nations.

2. In the great dissension which seems imminent over Europe, to maintain complete impartiality and a sincere and absolute neutrality, since neither the dignity of Portugal, its rights, nor its interests seem to be threatened thereby, in the actual state of events.

3. To draw closer, and in a special manner, the bonds of friendship and confidence which unite us to the neighboring kingdom; bonds which, in the interest of both the peninsular peoples, should become more intimate and cordial, thus securing to the fraternity of Portugal and Spain the only possible solid foundation, the only one compatible with the glorious traditions of the two countries—that of a mutual and full respect for each other’s independence, which is the only proper way of increasing their mutual happiness.

This policy, in the present situation of Europe, is the only one which the cabinet desires and expects to maintain. Should future events arise, which God avert, and which, happily, do not appear probable, whereby the national independence be endangered, the sacredness of its territory, the dignity of its flag, or the rights of the Crown and the nation in the lawful defence of these principles now confided to the cabinet by the confidence of the King, be threatened, the government would then find support in the noble and unanimous sentiments of the Portuguese people. This policy has met the approval of both chambers, and I am confident it will merit likewise the approbation of the whole country. Nor can it be otherwise with a people who, in contemplating its past history, behold with just pride the patriotic traditions of seven centuries, and the noble examples which that history holds up to them, and who, in regarding its present condition, may glory as having within a few years consolidated the union of the legitimate throne with all the enlarged liberties and immunities which modern institutions guarantee.

I therefore expect that your excellency, not only in the official relations with the members of the government of the country to which you are accredited, but likewise in your private conversations with the members of the diplomatic corps, and with prominent persons of that court, will avail yourself of every opportunity to make known and maintain the same policy, as being the only one in accordance with the principles of the rights of nations, as applied to the peculiar position of our country. In this, as in everything, I count upon the loyal co-operation, the zeal, and the prudence of your excellency.

God preserve your excellency.