Italy. August 26, 1848
Italy.

* Turin, August 19. The outgoing ministers are publishing a short report of their official activity in the official gazette and hereby declare that they wish to render a full account before parliament and in no way intend to evade ministerial responsibility. The report states: 1) that this ministry has, with regard to the reorganisation and increase of the army and the mobilisation of the National Guard, made the necessary preparations so that by the beginning of September the troops will be more numerous and better disciplined than before; 2) as regards finances, all measures have been taken to meet requirements without burdening the taxpayers unduly; 3) the ministry has protested to all free governments against the validity, in so far as it relates to policy, of the armistice signed in Milan on August 9 by Count Salasco; 4) furthermore, the ministry has demanded an investigation into the army commanders involved in the recent events; 5) the ministry has requested the armed intervention of France; 6) it has insisted on the intervention of France, even when peaceful mediation was pushed to the foreground by foreign diplomacy; 7) it has issued instructions accordingly to its diplomatic agents, and has attempted to win all the forces of Italy for the common cause. The ministry adds: “Even though it was not granted to it to carry through what it had begun and to achieve results, it nonetheless is convinced that Italy, if only it does not abandon itself, may hope for a successful outcome.” The close of the declaration runs: “It would be unworthy to lay down arms on account of ten days’ misfortunes, and imprudent to believe that a shameful peace would be more conducive to the security of the material interests and the honour of Piedmont than an honourable struggle.”