ABSTRACT
His intuition was right on the mark. By 4 August Stratford had learned of the Vienna Conference, was calling its aim of 'fusion ... nothing more nor less than moonshine', and still wanted the (Turkish) 'ultimatum', a position that paralleled Ottoman policy.2 Five days later, however, telegraphic instructions arrived from Vienna to the three ambassadors with the word that the Turkish package had been completely set aside in favour of Buol's scheme. Reshid was taciturn; Stratford hid behind the 'unless another arrangement has been made' es cape dause, and both he and la Cour awaited the Caradoc, England's fast steamer, which was expected in a few days. Turkish spirits were bolstered by the arrival of Egypt's Alexandria Division of 10,000-11,000 troops, who camped outside Constantinople. By 11 August Stratford could confidently predict the Porte's polite refusal of the Vienna project, and la Cour knew that Reshid would demand modifications and sent this information to Vienna.
