Sir,
You have recently addressed three letters to the Italian people. These letters which just appeared in the Milan newspapers and which were later published together as a pamphlet are a true manifesto against our nation. You have left your historical studies to attack France; I leave mine to respond to you.
In your first two lettters, which were written at the end of the month of July, you set out to demonstrate that Prussia, infuriatingly attacked, was only defending herself. Perhaps you were correct at that time; because the aggressor then was clearly France. But don't you presume a lot when you add that Prussia would only fight defensive wars? You would not write that today; because the roles were so completely reversed at the conference at Ferrieres that Prussia is clearly the aggressor today. As for the rest, Sir, I can only applaud the sentiments that you expressed in favor of peace and law.
Your third letter, written at the end of the month of August, that is, in the midst of the Prussian victories, differs significantly from the first two. You are no longer concerned with the defense of your country, but with its expansion. For you, it is no longer a question of security, but of conquest. Without the smallest demur, you write that Prussia must take Alsace and keep it.
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