Caricature de Cham, publié par L'Illustration, journal universel, 30 juin
1860.
The Times, April 28, 1860 (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT).
GENEVA, April 23. Yesterday was the great day on which Savoy had to ratify
the treaty of cession by popular vote, and I was debating within myself whether
I should cross the Swiss frontier and sully your columns with a report of one
of the lowest and most immoral farces which was ever played in the history of
nations. I have been watching its dénoument for the last month, and you will
find it excusable that I felt a surfeit of it. The absurdity of the whole
comedy was such that while its novelty lasted one forgot its immorality to
laugh at the ridiculous situations and incidents, and the seriousness of the
actors in performing their parts. It was that kind of morbid interest which one
cannot help feeling at the play of the cat with the mouse it has caught–those
gambols and feats of activity on the part of the tormentor, encouraging the
victim and then checking it again by one move of the claw, indulging all the
while in the drollest possible antics, turning over now on one, now on the
other side, creeping along the ground, and beating its sides with its tail or
leaping up in the air, but never taking its eye off the victim. All this was
droll enough in the beginning, but the poor mouse was so fascinated when it
felt itself within the grip of its captor that it afforded but little sport,
and when, nevertheless, it attempted to move, it received a blow which half
killed it, and took away the wish as well as the power for further attempts.
Thus the play was all on one side and became more disgusting than droll. I was
not at all disposed to assist at the end of it, and thus give an importance to
an act which deserved none at all. The timely arrival of some friends made me
change my mind. They had assisted at the voting at Nice, and were so full of
the drollery of the thing, and so anxious to see the counterpart of it, that I
was tempted to make a joint expedition with them in search of fun.
M.
Yves Nicolin attire l'attention de M. le secrétaire d'État à l'intérieur et aux
collectivités territoriales sur les risques juridiques, politiques et
institutionnels majeurs qu'entraîne le traité d'annexion de la Savoie. À
l'occasion du 150e anniversaire de l'annexion de la Savoie par la France, des
cérémonies et diverses festivités et visites officielles sont programmées
durant toute l'année 2010 notamment à partir du 24 mars puisque c'est par un
traité signé à Turin le 24 mars 1860 que les arrondissements de Nice et la
Savoie (les deux départements 73 et 74 actuels) ont été rattachés à la France
du second empire. Sa question se pose pour deux raisons juridiques
précises : d'abord et avant tout à l'échelle nationale parce que se pose
sans doute une question d'intégrité territoriale susceptible en conséquence
d'entraîner des effets internes importants.
