July 1, 1812
A Resource for Simon Haisell's War and Peace Slow Read Gang
The following is based upon information in the above book by Andrew Roberts, pages 585-586.
On this date, Alexander’s aide-de-camp, General Alexander Balashov visited Napoleon. Balashov presented Napoleon with a letter from the Czar, in which the Czar indicated that there was still time for Napoleon to avoid open war by withdrawing.
Napoleon responded with a very long letter. Some of the points Napoleon made in this letter include:
Napoleon reminded Alexander of the anti-British remarks he, the Czar, had made at Tilsit.
Napoleon noted that the Czar had “rearmed on a large scale, declined the path of negotiations” and had demanded changes to the Tilsit agreement.
Napoleon recalled “the personal esteem you have sometimes shown to me.”
Napoleon wrote, “..for eighteen months you have refused to explain anything.” He continued, “My ear will always be open to peace negotiations … you will always find in me the same feelings and true friendship.”
Napoleon blamed Alexander’s advisors for providing bad advice writing, “I pity the wickedness of those who gave your Majesty such bad advice.”
Concluding, Napoleon offered “a truce on the most liberal grounds, such as not considering men in hospital as prisoners—so that neither side has to hurry evacuations, which involve heavy losses—such as the return every two weeks of prisoners made by either side, using a rank-for-rank exchange system, and all the other stipulations that custom of war between civilized nations has allowed: Your Majesty will find me ready for anything.”
Napoleon ended the letter by writing, “… the private feelings that I bear for you are not in the least affected by these events … [I remain] full of affection and esteem for your fine and great qualities and desirous of proving it to you.”
On page 868, Andrew Roberts notes:
“After writing such an extraordinary, open-hearted letter, Napoleon was probably joking when he asked Balashov which was the best road to Mscow. ‘Sire,” came the superb retort, ‘one can take whichever road one wants. Charles XII went by way of Poltava.’” (Foord, Napoleon’s Russian Campaign, p. 75, Mowat, Diplomacy of Napoleon, p. 256)
Roberts further writes, “Alexander took up none of Napoleon’s proposals.” (p. 586)