338 THE ATTACK ON LORD JOHN RUSSELL. chap. 'Should the Government of her Majesty in Y TT « concert with that of France be of opinion that ' such a peace can be accepted, they will instruct ' Lord Westmoreland accordingly. If not, I hope 1 to be allowed to be heard personally before a ' final decision is made.' * At a later hour on the same day Lord John mentioned the reserve of Count Buol on the question which asked what Austria would do, if all her proposals should be rejected by Russia, and then added : ' If her Majesty's Government should decide to ' accept any one of the three systems which the ' Conference can agree upon, I think they should ' insist that Austria should make the rejection of ' all three a casus belli with Russia.' t It was only on that condition (which Austria, although at first hesitating, soon resolved, it appears, to accept!) that Lord John entertained the proposal ; and accordingly in weighing the measure, we must treat it as a scheme which, if leading under one supposition to peace, had also its warlike aspect. The plan was one resting in part upon the principle of ' Limitation,' and in part upon the principle of 'Counterpoise.' For the avowed
- Lord John Russell to the Earl of Clarendon, 18th April
1855. + A second despatch of same date from same to same. t ' En nous engagement a la soutenir au besoin par les amies ' une solution,' &c. Count Buol to Count Colloredo, 20th May 1855, communicated to Lord Clarendon, and not by him on that point questioned. Eastern Papers, No. xv. p. 21.
