Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/250

 ■20b ORKHN QT THE WAR -OF 1^3 CHAPTER XIII. chap. The Czar had no sooner uttered his threat to _J '__ occupy the Principalities, than he found himself toeCza's me ^ ^y the unanimous disapproval of the other Kur5ean 0n S reat Powers of Europe. ' Nor was this a barren Powers. expression of opinion. Prom the time of the accomplishment of Count Leiningen's mission, Austria had never ceased to declare her adhesion to her accustomed policy; and the moment that she saw herself endangered by the Czar's detei- mination to send troops into YVullachia and Moldavia, she became, as it was her interest and her duty to be, a resolute opponent of Eussia. And her resistance was of more value than that of any other Power, because she was so placed in reference to the Principalities that, at any moment and without any very hard effort, she could maho her will the law. Of course the Czar might resent the interference of Austria and declare war against her; but in such a case he would necessarily place the scene uf hostilities upon another part of her frontier. It was not possible for him with common prudence to wind round Its effect u;>on Aus- tria.