Реферат: A War Of Independence Essay Research Paper

collapsed, the Russians would have access to the Mediterranean Sea. Furthermore, Russia was

in the eyes of the other states as a probable sponsor of the revolution since both nations

belonged to the Orthodox faith. Additionally, the belief that the Tsar was behind the Revolution

of Greece became even more intense by the Greeks themselves. In fact, Greeks had the false – as

it turned out to be later on – impression that Russia would come to their rescue. This impression

was justified by the fact that Tsar Alexander had vaguely given some faint hopes to the

revolutionaries before the revolution. (Finley, 1). However, the Tsar and his ministers were in a

dilemma. On the one hand, the Greeks, being in friction with the Turks, were affecting

tremendously the commercial activities of Russia. This was because during the years before

1821, Russia started exporting grain to the Western European countries using mainly Greek

vessels that carried the Turkish flag. However, since Greeks were in conflict with the Ottoman

Empire, the former were not allowed any more to pass through the Straits and consequently the

exporting power of Russia was curtailed. (Anderson, 60). On the other hand, it goes without

saying that the Tsar did not wish any alteration of the existent status quo in Europe. Monarchies

should be preserved, and therefore, Tsar Alexander’s objective would, naturally, be to preserve

his monarchical rule.

In Laibach the Powers were taken aback. Metternich and Castlereagh on the one side were

against any Russo-Turkish conflicts, let alone war, and on the other side there was Russia facing

a two-blade knife. Both Castlereagh and Metternich put all their efforts on influencing the Tsar

against the Greeks. That is how the Tsar decided to keep a rather neutral stance.

Caslereagh

Though the Greek Revolution took place in 1821, it was not officially discussed before the

Conference of Verona (October-November 1822). However, during the period between the two

conferences the Great Powers were feverishly trying to influence one another on their conduct

regarding the Greek issue. This atmosphere is successfully described by Finley who says that

Europe was threatened by a “war of opinion”. (Finley, 3).

This is how the diplomatic arena had shaped when the Great Powers met at the Conference of

Verona in 1822. Castlereagh died before the Conference took place and was succeeded by

George Canning. + mentioned this takeover of the Foreign Office by G. Canning since historians