Vezina wrote:Official Statement from Paris
The war in Lombardia has gone on for long enough. We are beginning to hear reports of ethnic French communities being pillaged and suffering summary executions en masse at the faintest hint of protest.
The Second French Empire demands a cessation to the fighting between Austria and Sardinia-Piedmont. Vienna has made its point against its tiny neighbor; let it end before matters must be taken into our hands.
The North German Confederation notes with great sadness that France has not even waited for a reply to this demand from the new Austrian government before declaring war.
We further point out that war was not of the choosing of the Austrian government, that the Kingdom of Sardinia are in fact the aggressors in this matter.
We have no desire for war with the French Empire and hope that even at this moment that war can be avoided by urgent and immediate talks between the parties involved.
However we are forced to give notice that unless the French Empire retracts its declaration of war and reaches an agreement with Austria forthwith, we will be forced to ourselves declare war on France, according to the terms of our alliance with Austria.
This step will be undertaken with a heavy heart, as good relations with France has been a policy this government has always pursued and we hope it will not need to be taken at all, and that wisdom and discretion will rule the day.
If that is not the case though, we will be left with no choice in the matter, as honour requires us to live up to our commitments.