On this day in 1743, the Triple crossing Treaty of Worms was signed, forming a criminal alliance between Great Britain, Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia. William Pitt Sr. the Great Commoner, could not stomach Worms. Speaking in the House of Commons on 1 December 1743, he roundly condemned the Treaty in the following statement which occurred during the course of an address of thanks he was giving after the Battle of Dettingen: I had almost forgotten, sir (I wish future nations may forget), to mention the Treaty of Worms. I wish that treaty could be erased from our annals and our records, so as never to be mentioned hereafter: for that treaty, with its appendix, the convention that followed, is one of the most destructive, unjust, and absurd that was ever concluded. By that treaty we have taken upon ourselves a burden which I think it impossible for us to support; we have engaged in such an act of injustice toward Genoa as must alarm all Europe, and give to the French a most signal advantage. From this, sir, all the princes of Europe will see what regard we have to justice when we think that the power is on our side; most of them, therefore, will probably join with France in curtailing our power, or, at least, in preventing its increase. The alliance of Sardinia and its assistance may, I admit, be of great use to us in defeating the design of the Spaniards in Italy. But gold itself may be bought too dear; and I fear we shall find the purchase we have made to be but precarious, especially if Sardinia should be attacked by France as well as by Spain, the almost certain consequence of our present scheme of politics. For these reasons, sir, I hope there is not any gentleman, nor even any minister, who expects that I should declare my satisfaction that this treaty has been concluded. After much unpleasantness searching for vids on Worms and Pitt, I segue to something pretty, if only marginally connected! youtube/watch?v=h_Wzsh6C_3w
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 21:55:01 +0000
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