ABSTRACT
Parliamentary support was seen, in Britain and abroad, as a way to affirm Britain's policy, notably its determination to stick to Frederick. However, a persistently sickly Pitt found it difficult to control the dynamic of events in Parliament or in foreign policy, the latter notably because of the unexpected Diplomatic Revolution. Devonshire discussed foreign relations with foreign envoys, although taking care to keep this secret so as not to offend the Secretaries of State, which really meant Pitt. Moreover, public disquiet over foreign policy remained a factor. In the meanwhile, French military moves toward the Lower Rhine increased tension, although Cumberland was given assurances of Prussian assistance if required. Cumberland was assured that the maintenance of these Prussian troops would be paid as any opposition in the Commons could be over-ruled. However, the crisis in Prussia's military situation that June led to Frederick saying that he could no longer send help to Cumberland and Hanover.
