VI. il. b
La neutralité a été strictement observée par tous les Commandans de» vaisseaux Britanniques, par le Gouvernement des Isles Ioniennes etc. Nais le» deux partis se sont souvent plaints de nous , et ont tâché de nous rapprocher de leur cause.
«One of thèse parties contends that ail governments sbould consider tbe •other party as Rebels, and therefore not qualified to claiin the legitimate «rights of Belligerents. Tbe other party replies, that struggle for emancipa- •tion from tyrannical rule is entitled to expect more than Ihe strict laws •autborize them to claim at the hands of ail free nations."
They, who neither admit the plea of the one party, nor subscribe to the doctrine of te other, respect, in both alike, thè lawful exercise of tbeir strict belligereut rights and resist the extravagant extension of those rigbts by either.
Prince Metternich , it is not difficult to see, enlers heart and soul, into the Turkisb view of this controversy. He considers the Greeks simply as rebels to their natural Sovereign. He would, no doubt, mitigate the rigour of that Sovereign's rule, and obtain, if he could, peaceably and by persuasion au improvement in the lot of bis Subjects ; but he would repress the armed résistance of the Greeks with a strong hand , and does not conçoive
that by any duration or by any saceesses , insurrection can ever grow into légitimât* war.
Whaterer opinion thc Aostrian Minister may entertain on thèse subjects we must protest against bis employiog it to measure oor conduct although it must naturally govern bis own.
Tbe Greeks complain loudly of tbe proceedings of tbe Austrian ships, wbich they represent as in effect tbe most active Allies of tbe Tarkish cause.
Tbe conveying stores to Turkish Garnisons and places, and tbe breach of Greek Blokades, wbich Prince Metternicb, no doubt, feels to be only a just vindication of the natnral rigbt of Austria to trade with any power t notwithstanding a partial rébellion of its subject, would be in those who acknowledge tbe belligérant caracter of the Greeks, a gross violation of Neutrality , and the direct taking of a part on the side of Turkey , in the war.
Prince Metternich's inculpation of our conduct as too favourable to the Greeks, dérives, therefore from an original and pervading différence in the opinions of the two governments upon this subject. What we do, and what Prince Metternicb blâmes , is (wbether it be right or wrong) , a necessary conséquence of our own proclaimed opinion (an opinion from which indeed wc know that of Austria differs) and not a déviation (as Prince Metternicb seems to assume) from some commun principle on which Austria and Englaod were agreed.
The disclosure of thèse opinion on the part of Prince Metternich shews the extent of the embarassment which we have avoided , by not being involved in the conférences for de settlement of the affairs of Greece. If in addition to the practical divergency of views between Russia and Austria, there had also corne into full light the now onderstood différence of opinion between Austria and England , ail attempt at a joint interférence between Turkey and Greece would probably bave ended in a still marked and inextricable failure.
Thèse observations dérive ont of those which Y. E. reports as having been made to You by Prince Metternich. You may assure Prince Metternich that he may be quite at bis ease as to any imputed designs of Great-Britaia upon Greece. There is not the slightest disposition on the part of His Maj. Servents to advise His Maj. to accept the protectorate , which is said to be intended to be offered to His Maj. ; nor in any way to change the system of Neutrality which He bas bitherto observed in this unhappy war.
