ABSTRACT
ALTHOUGHTHEisolationofRussiaprovidedthekey-noteto theinternationalstruggleovertheCongresssettlement,this isolationdidnotbecomemarkeduntilOctober,1878,and duringthefirsttwomonthsaftertheCongressrelationsbetween AustriaandRussiaweresufficientlyamicabletoproducesome doubtsastowhetherthealignmentofthepowersattheCongress wouldcontinue.TheGorchakov-Andrassyprotocolof13 JulyhadmadeprovisionforsomesupportbyRussiaandAustria ofeachother'sinterestsinthesettlement,anduntilthemembers oftheinternationalcommissionsbegantoarriveinthepeninsula intheautumnRussianactivitiesinBulgariadidnotcreateexcessivealarmamongtheotherpowers.Turkeyontheother handshowedtheutmostreluctancetocomplywithanyofthe treatyprovisions,andherpassiveoppositiontoAustrianpolicy inBosnialedAndrassytoseeksupportagainstherfromany availablequarter.Asaresultthethreeempireswereablefor someweekstoco-operateinplansfortheexerciseofjointpressure onthePorte,andtheBritishgovernmentshowedconsiderable alarmattheposition.
