Internuncio. But the Treaty continues to exist for us.
Ambassador of England. I declare that, in my opinion, Mehemet Ali has now no right; that the Sultan is master to take the course which he shall consider fitting, and that we can only afford him our advice.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, addressing himself to the Internuncio, says to him: Your Excellency began by saying, that if the Sultan is satisfied with the letter of Mehemet Ali, his submission ought to be accepted. But Mehemet Ali has already written a thousand letters of the same kind. Can any faith be placed in his letters? It is evident besides that there is some trick even in this last letter. For example, he speaks of Commodore Napier’s Convention, which is a void act, in order to come to the subject of hereditary succession.
Internuncio. That is true; but this letter, given in consequence of a summons made to him by the English Admiral in the name of the Four Powers, cannot be compared to all those which he has addressed of his own accord to the Sublime Porte, and specifically to Hosrew Pacha.
Minister for Foreign Affairs. You understand, gentlemen, that in any case it is necessary that the Porte should have time to reflect upon this matter.
Internuncio. Assuredly, an affair of this kind cannot be concluded in a day; it is, doubtless, necessary that your Excellency should be able to concert with your colleagues, and take the orders of the Sultan.
Minister for Foreign Affairs observes, that having to submit to the Council and to the Sultan his report on the Conference of this day, he is desirous of knowing, definitely, what is the conclusion which he should communicate to them.
Representatives reply that their opinion being recorded in the present Protocol, they refer themselves to it.
Ambassador of England. I repeat that I must wait for the decision of the Sultan to give the advice which is enjoined to me by the orders of my Government.
Internuncio observes once again how much it would be to be regretted if the Porte should not conform with promptitude to the wish expressed by the Allied Courts in the Memorandum of the 14th of November.