Can you grant a protectorate their freedom?

My issue involves an ally, A, declaring war on a protectorate, B. My two options, "enter war on side of A, or break alliance with protectorate B", or something of that nature. It is a lose-lose situation in terms of diplomacy. Either option I pick instantly grants me a -X value for how nations view me, because now I can't be a trusty ally. It's really annoying when I play as France, cause everyone hates me already for being France.

My goal is to liberate who I can, kick Austria's, Prussia's, and Russia's butts, be an annoying rival to Great Britain with no territorial expansion ambitions, and remain friendly to others so as to make trade partners. It would just be nice if I could grant someone like Westphalia their freedom rather than be their protectorate and, well, have to protect.

I don't think you can. What you can do though is to avoid having protectorates in the first place. Next time you conquer one of those one-province minors, instead of making it your protectorate, loot it! Then let it revolt, move in an army, lay siege to it and then ask for terms to make peace (which they'll most likely accept).

You could probably edit it in ESF editor.

After that turn they declare war, edit ESF editor and they're your protectorate again,