Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 2.djvu/146

 IIG CAUSES INVOLVING FRANCE AND ENGLAND CHAP. X. The coun- ter-pro- posals of Russia reach Vienna at the same time as the English messenger. They are rejected by the Confer- ence of the four Powers. Austria and I'russia 'support' ho suin- nioiis, but ivithout m the step. of the respective forces, which could justify tlieir eagerness to accelerate the declaration of war. It chanced that, simultaneously with the arrival of the English messenger at Vienna, there came thither from St Petersburg the counter-proposi- tions of Eussia. Count Buol saw the importance of disposing of these before the summons went on to St Petersburg ; so, after persuading Lord West- moreland to detain the English messenger, he instantly assembled the Conference of the four Powers. By this Conference the counter-proposi- tions of Eussia were unanimously rejected,* and the bearer of the summons carried this decision of the four Powers to St Petersburg, together with a despatch from the Austrian Government, in- structing Count Esterhazy to support the sum- mons, and throwing upon Eussia the responsibility of the impending war.-f- The despatch, however, fell short of announcing that the refusal to quit the Principalities would place the Czar in a state of war with Austria as well as with the Western Powers. Prussia supported the summons in lan- guage corresponding with the language of the Vienna Cabinet. Baron Manteuffel's despatch to St Petersburg ' was drawn up in very pressing ' language. It urged the Eussian Government to ' world would be exposed by a refusal, and de- ' to proceed with those propositions.' — Protocol of Conference of March 5. 'Ea.stern Papers,' part vii. p. 80. t 'Eastern Papers,' part vii. p. 64.
 * Aklng part
 * consider the dangers to which the peace of the
 * 'The Conference unaniniou.sly agreed that it was impossible