The Chancellor of the Empire to Count Schonvalof, January 24, 1875
The Chancellor of the Empire to Count Schonvalof.
The English ambassador, by order of his government, has communicated to me at dispatch from Lord Derby, dated the 20th of January, of which I send you herewith a copy for your information.
I have made it my duty to bring this document to the knowledge of His Majesty the Emperor.
Our August Master is sensible of the manner in which Lord Derby appreciates the thought of humanity which has inspired him in calling the European governments to a general understanding for the purpose of inquiring into the means of moderating as much as possible the rigors of war.
His Imperial Majesty regrets so much the more the resolution of Her Britannic Majesty’s government not to take part in this deliberation. It would have been desirable that the voice of a great nation, such as England, should be heard in an investigation of which the object appeared to meet with its sympathies.
The government of Her Britannic Majesty is alone judge of the motives which dictate to it this absence. It is not our part to enter into a discussion on this subject. However, as the dispatch of Lord Derby contains an opinion on the points of view and acts of the Brussels conference, I have thought it worth while to make some observations on the manner in which we consider them.
They are set forth in the accompanying communication, of which your excellency is authorized to give a copy to the principal secretary of state of Her Britannic Majesty at the same time as one of the present dispatch.
Receive, &c.