Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/434

 392 APPENDIX. NOTE IV. Correspondence between Sir Arthur Gordon and Lord Russell.* The Hox. Sir Arthur Gordo.v, K.C.M.G., to Earl Russell, K.G. Ascot Wood, February 1875. My dear Lord Russell, — Like every one else, I have read your late publication with interest and with pleasure. It contains, however, a statement which has caused me much surprise. The statement to which I refer is one with reference to the conduct of the negotiations which preceded the Crimean war. It is to be found at page 271, and is as follows : — ' The Austrian Government had framed a Note of con- ' ciliation, which the Emperor of Russia had accepted ' as a settlement of all difficulties. I proposed to Lord ' Clarendon that the Turkish Government should be told ' that if they would accept this Note tolldem verbis Ave ' could arrange a peace between Turkey and Russia ; but ' that if Turkey altered the Note, we could befriend her no 1 further. Lord Aberdeen, although he saw very clearly ' that by this means peace would be insured, declined to ' use his authority to enforce the condition. Had I been ' Prime Minister at the time, I should have insisted on the ' acceptance of the Austrian Note.' What you might have clone had you been Prime Minister in 1853 can be known, of course, by none except yourself; but I have no hesitation whatever in saying that your of March 1, 1875.
 * Reprinted by Macmillan & Co. ("svith permission) from the 'Times'