Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/114

 72 OKIGIN OF THE WAR OF 1853 chap. Government to evade treaties and ill-use its IVl Christian subjects ought to be checked rather by the combined and friendly remonstrance of all the Powers than by the separate action of one, the memorandum proceeded : ' If all the great Powers ' frankly adopt this line of conduct, they will have ' a well-founded expectation of preserving the ex- ' istence of Turkey. However, they must not ' conceal from themselves how many elements of ' dissolution that Empire contains within itself. • Unforeseen circumstances may hasten its fall. ' ... In the uncertainty which hovers over the ' future, a single fundamental idea seems to admit ' of a really practical application : it is, that the ' danger which may result from a catastrophe in ' Turkey will be much diminished if, in the event ' of its occurring, Russia and England have come ' to an understanding as to the course to be taken • by them in common. That understanding will ' be the more beneficial, inasmuch as it will have ' the full assent of Austria. Between her and ' Russia there exists already an entire accord.' His policy Upon the whole, it would seem that from the to 1853. peace of Adrianople down to the beginning of 1853 the state of the Czar's mind upon the Eastern Question was this : — He was always ready to come forward as an eager and almost ferocious defender of his Church, and he deemed this motive to be one of such cogency that views resting on mere policy and prudence were always in danger of being overborne by it; but in the absence of events tending to bring this fiery principle into