ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND EGYPT. 9 1 



The policy of England had been straightforward from the first, 

 for she regarded Mehemet Ali as a rebel, an4 considered that his 

 overthrow in Syria, the restoration of the Turkish Fleet, and of the 

 provinces he had seized, were the only guarantee for peace ; and Lord 

 Palmerston was of opinion that then, and not until then, could any 

 terms be offered by which Mehemet Ali could retain the rulership 

 of Egypt. 



Austria supported the English policy, with this exception, that she 

 considered Mehemet Ali should retain the provinces he had won by 

 force of arms, and that at his death they should revert to the Ottoman 

 Empire. 



France, whilst desirous to maintain the integrity and independence 

 of Turkey, and the suzerainty of the Sultan throughout his Empire, 

 yet wished to recognise Mehemet Ali in his possession of Syria, as a 

 branch of the Turkish Empire, and permit him to rule and defend 

 it in the name of the Sultan, because she considered that the rule of 

 the Sultan was weak, and that the rule of Mehemet Ali would be 

 strong. 



The Conference closed without any decisive results, for every 

 effort to secure the concert of France with the rest of Europe, 

 completely failed. 



The next step, the mission of Baron Brunnow to England, marks 

 an interesting incident in European diplomacy, for it showed the 

 subtle and sinister policy of Russia on the one hand, and the clear- 

 sighted and astute statesmanship of England, under the guidance 

 of Lord Palmerston, on the other. 



This mission of Baron Brunnow to England expressed at the 

 onset, with amusing candour, the gratification of the Emperor 

 Nicholas at the slight differences that existed between England and 

 Russia on the affairs of the East, and complimented Lord Palmer- 

 ston for the distinguishing marks of confidence which he had shewn 

 in the good intentions of the Russian Government, and finally, con- 

 veyed the earnest desire of the Emperor for friendly relations, and 

 co-operation with England. 



Russia considered that the Sultan was her ally, and the ally also of 

 England ; that Mehemet Ali was a rebel against the Porte, and that 

 all that was necessary to secure peace, was, that they should come to 

 a clear understanding, and that whatever their decision, it would be 

 accepted by Europe. 



With that object, therefore, Russia proposed that she should give 

 assistance to the Sultan, as the representative of Europe, that the army 



