Answer of the Ministry of War to the memorandum to the Cabinet from the Foreign Office
Private – the Cabinet
Signori,
The Ministry of War cannot agree with the position of the Foreign Office regarding the improvement of the fortifications of the Kingdom, for the defensive potential of the realm should be developed, whether we are in cordial relationships with the Bonapartist France or not. The seas of the international politics are stormy and tend to change quite rapidly - and hoping that our internal security would never be threatened by war due to signed agreements is a rather idealistic approach. The ancient authors have wisely said :Si vis pacem, para bellum - and developed armed forces and system of defense of the Kingdom is the best guarantee against an assault on our sovereignity in the future. The Ministry of War must note that buildng fortifications in Nice and Savoy cannot be called a hostile gesture towards France to a smallest extent, it is not compatible to, say, concentration of troops on the border with the empire - for Emperor Napoleon could disapprove of such actions only if he indeed harboured expansionist ambitions regarding these regions. This decision, after all, is only the first step in the overall improvement of the fortifications of the Kingdom the Ministry of War would like to pursue - and cannot be considered as directed precisely against France, even if we keep certain dangers that may potentially come from it in the future, in mind, when we choose such path. The Ministry of War must also note that upholding the peaceful foreign policies cannot be construed as deliberately becoming vulnerable for potential dangers by ignoring the neccessity to improve our armed forces and defense system. Being weak does not equal being peaceful and safe.
However, since currenty the state of the Treasure does not allow us to implement any reasonable betterment of the fortification system, it can only be a subject of theoretical discussion.
Since my Right Honorable friend mentioned the balance of forces within Europe, I would like to ask, whether the Foreign Office intends to works on improving our relationships the new great power arisen in Europe, the North German Federation, and whether the relationships with the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, which became much more cordial under the previous administration, would be developed further and could possibly lead to any agreement of cooperation - or the Minister of Foreign Affairs is of the position that our aim is to be maintaining the status quo, without entering into any new obligations or friendships?
- Cesare Luigi Amat, Marchese di Soleminis and Minister of War