 Later, however, to appease fervent French Catholics, he sent soldiers to defend the residual Papal States against annexation by Italy.In a speech at Bordeaux shortly after becoming Emperor, Napoleon III proclaimed that "The Empire means peace" (""L'Empire, c'est la paix""), reassuring foreign governments that he would not attack other European powers in order to extend the French Empire.He was, however, determined to follow a strong foreign policy to extend France's influence and warned that he would not stand by and allow another European power to threaten its neighbour.