NAPOLEON III. CRIMED WAR 1854 (Preparations for the Declarat - Lot 420

NAPOLEON III. CRIMED WAR 1854 (Preparations for the Declaration of War of 27 March 1854)- Extraordinary Supplement by the "UNIVERSAL MONITOR" of Thursday 2 March 1854 - SPEECH BY H. M. THE EMPEROR at the opening of the 1854 Legislative Session on the question of TURKEY and the need for France to intervene in the East"....Gentlemen,... We saw, indeed, in the East, in the midst of a profound Peace, a sovereign suddenly demanding new advantages from his weaker neighbour, and, because he did not obtain them, invading two of his provinces. Alone, this fact should put weapons in the hands of those who are revolted by iniquity... France has as much and perhaps more interest than England in ensuring that Russia's influence does not extend indefinitely over Constantinople; because to rule over Constantinople is to rule over the Mediterranean... What are you going to do in Constantinople? We go there with England to defend the Sultan's cause, and nevertheless to protect the rights of Christians; we go there to defend the freedom of the seas and our just influence in the Mediterranean..." - Typo. PANCKOUCKE. Poster (66 x 48) Status A.