2{ CAUSES INVOLVING FRANCE AND ENGLAND c H A P. Eiirope. lie proposed to give Eussia notice ' that . ' France and England were resolved to prevent ' the repetition of the affair of Sinope, and that ' every Russian ship thenceforward met iu the
- Eiixine would be requested, and, if necessary,
' constrained, to return to Sebastopol ; and that ' any act of aggression afterwards attempted ' against the Ottoman territory or flag would
- be repelled by force.' * This proposal involved,
M-ithout expressing it, a defensive alliance with Turkey against Russia ; and if it were adopted, the Emperor of Russia would have to see his flag driven from the waters which bounded his own dominions. It was so framed that Lord Palmer- ston would know it meant war, whilst Lord Aberdeen and 'Mv Gladstone might be led to imagine that it was a measure rather gentle than otherwise, which perhaps would keep peace in the Euxine. Indeed, the proposal seemed made to win the Chancellor of the Exchequer; for it fell short of war by a measure of distance which, though it jnight seem very small to people with common eyesight, was more than broad enough to afford commodious standing-room to a man delighting as he did iu refinements and slender distinctions. The Frenfh The Enipcror of the French pressed this scheme i.ressesupon upou the Euglisli Cabinet with his whole force. Cabinet. ' Hc uot Only urgcd it by means of the usual channels of diplomatic communication, but pri- vately desired Lord Cowley ' to recommend it iu • 'Eastern Papers,' part ii. p. 307.
