??392: Chapter 230: Flowers, Swords, Poland, and France (6K4)_2
392: Chapter 230: Flowers, Swords, Poland, and France (6K4)_2
Talleyrand nodded slightly, “In that case, Peel does seem rather outstanding.
At least he knows to view issues from a dynamic perspective, much better than Palrston.”
Lionel’s eyes shifted slightly upon hearing this, and he asked with a smile, “Did Viscount Palrston have so unpleasantness with you?”
Talleyrand glanced at Lionel and said with an appearance of nonchalance, “If he could learn to speak with foreign envoys with a respectful attitude, I believe he could do much better in the Foreign Office.
Or rather, I at least hope he could show France half the respect he accords to Russia.”
Agares, lying atop an acacia tree and nibbling on an apple, couldn’t help but snicker at this scene, “One wants to listen, the other wants to speak.
But on the surface, they’re dithering, tepid in their approach, just like nagging old won, the sa as their mothers.”
Upon hearing these words, Arthur only glanced at the Red Devil, “Agares, I understand your grumbles, but we humans usually call this ‘diplomacy.'”
Lionel quickly followed up, querying Talleyrand, “What did he say to you?”
Talleyrand coughed twice and, imitating Palrston’s formal and serious tone, said, “I believe, even if Britain were to diate the Polish issue amicably, it would still be rejected by Russia.
Moreover, the major powers had just recently rejected the proposition put forward by France to intervene in the Polish issue.”
In the case that friendly diation would be rejected by Russia, the intervention of Britain and France in the Polish issue would necessarily be coercive.
However, the close partnership between St.
Jas’s Palace and St.
Petersburg does not allow the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland to intervene in such a manner.
Besides, Russia’s possession of Poland was already confird in the “Treaty of Vienna.” And I am also quite certain that the current Tsar of Russia is a strong and forceful monarch.
Therefore, for Britain and France to undertake military intervention against a strong monarch with an inarguable right, the timing is far from ripe, looking at the current situation.”
Upon hearing this, Arthur finally understood why Talleyrand was displeased today.
While Palrston’s words seed logically sound at first glance, upon closer scrutiny, there was not one part that made sense.
Firstly, based on the recent news reports, not all the great powers have refused to get involved in the Polish issue.
For instance, the Austrian Pri Minister tternich, who once stood in the sa trench with the Russians on the issue of Belgian independence, was beginning to feel uneasy about the Polish issue.
The Austrians had been reluctant to let Belgium beco independent from the Netherlands previously because they hoped to use a unified and powerful Netherlands to hinder France’s eastward expansion.
Similarly, Austria did not wish for Russia to swallow Poland whole but instead wanted Poland to act as a buffer between Austria and Tsarist Russia.
Therefore, Palrston lied in the first part of his statent.
And in the second part, he escalated the level of intervention to ard intervention, which was practically a direct threat to France – either do not intervene, or be prepared to fight Russia.
Moreover, once France went to war with Russia, Britain would not provide any form of assistance to France.
As for the third part, about the “Treaty of Vienna,” it was even more brazen.
In the “Treaty of Vienna,” Russia’s possession of Poland was conditional, naly, Russia had to respect the Polish constitution of 1815.
The reason France and Austria wanted to intervene in Poland was precisely because this condition had now been completely disregarded.
Lionel was sowhat surprised after hearing this, “This…
this is really what Viscount Palrston said?
That he didn’t actively seek trouble with Russia was already surprising to , but according to this statent, is he planning to completely write off Poland without seeking any compensation from Russia?
This doesn’t align with everyone’s impression of him, for ever since he entered the political arena, he has always been known for his tough image!”
Arthur responded softly, “Lionel, that just ans you still don’t understand Viscount Palston.
Palston has always been tough toward the weak, but when facing strong adversaries, his attitude can be summarized by a speech he made early in his career in Parliant.”
Talleyrand, intrigued by these words, asked, “What did he say in Parliant?”
Arthur spoke, “Soone wants us to make threats during negotiations, regardless of whether we’re prepared for war in case the negotiations fail.
If we always talk about war but actually desire neutrality, if we use the military to threaten but then hide behind official docunts, if we brandish our swords provocatively during discussions, but then pick up a pen to write protests when it’s ti to fight, we beco blustering cowards.
This will not only result in derision and ridicule from all over Europe, but from henceforth no one will take our words seriously.”
After pondering for a mont, Talleyrand inquired further, “When was this said?”
Arthur massaged his temples, “If the archive records are not mistaken, it should be in 1823, when France, at the behest of the Holy Alliance, sent troops to intervene in the Spanish revolution.
At that ti, many liberal mbers of Parliant believed that Britain should imdiately embark on an expedition to support the progressive forces of freedom and assist the revolutionary constitutional governnt of Spain.”
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