THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE 1821 TO 1833 BY W.ALISON PHILLIPS 1897

246 THE WAR OF GREEK INDEPENDENCE
vate conversations with Baron Lieven, the Kussian ambassador
in London. In March 1826, accordingly, the
Duke of Wellington was sent to St. Petersburg to congratulate
the Czar on his accession, and at the same
time to invite him to take part in some joint demonstration
on behalf of Greece.
The English proposal placed the Czar in a somewhat
awkward position.
Only a few days before, on
the 17th of March, he had sent an ultimatum to the
Porte demanding, with the threat of war in case of
refusal, the immediate despatch of plenipotentiaries
to Russia to discuss certain grievances of which the
Czar's Government had to complain. It was possible,
of course, that the Sultan might reject the ultimatum.
If, however, he were to accept it, it would be difficult
for the Czar immediately to advance a new and
entirely different series of claims. In spite of this
objection, however, Nicholas, on the 4th of April, and
before the answer of the Porte accepting the ultimatum
arrived, signed the so-called Protocol of St. Petersburg,
according to which England was empowered to
offer to the Ottoman Government a settlement of the
Hellenic question based on the terms agreed to by the
Greek representatives at Perivolakia, Russia in any
case promising her support. 1
The publication of this protocol produced a perfect
i Holland, p. 5.