Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/209

 BETWEEN THE CZAR AND THE SULTAN. 1G7 •to know their own unbiassed impressions re- CHAP. ' specting the kind of guarantee demanded by _ ' Prince Meutschikoff, and I could not do other- ' wise than approve the decision which they ap- ' pear to have adopted with unanimity. My o-.vn ' impression is, that if your Majesty should sanc- ' tion that decision, the Ambassador will probably ' break off his relations with the Porte and go ' away, together perhaps with his whole embassy : ' nor is it quite impossible even that a temporary ' occupation, however unjust, of the Danubian ' Principalities by Russia may take place ; but I ' feel certain that neither a declaration of war, ' nor any other act of open hostility, is to be ' apprehended for the present, as the Emperor ' Nicholas cannot resort to such extremities on ' account of the pending differences without con- ' tradicting his most solemn assurances, and ex- ' posing himself to the indignant censure of all ' Europe. I conceive that, under such circum- ' stances, the true position to be maintained by ' the Porte is one of moral resistance to such de- ' mands as are really inadmissible on just and ' essential grounds, and that the principle should ' even be applied under protest to the occupation ' of the Principalities, not in weakness or despair, ' but in reliance on a good cause, and on the ' sympathy of friendly and independent Govern- • ments. A firm adherence to this line of con- ' duct as long as it is possible to maintain it ' with honour will, in my judgment, offer the ' best chances of ultimate success with the least