Britain, seeking to maintain the security of…

Britain, seeking to maintain the security of the Ottoman Empire, dispatches a fleet to the Dardanelles, where it is joined by another fleet sent by France; both powers hope for a diplomatic compromise.

The representatives of the four neutral Great Powers—Great Britain, France, Austria and Prussia—meet in Vienna, where they draft a note that they hope will be acceptable to Russia and Turkey.

The note, which meets with the approval of the tsar, is, however, rejected by the sultan, who feels that the poorly phrased document is open to many different interpretations.

Britain, France, and Austria are united in proposing amendments to mollify the Sultan, but their suggestions are ignored Saint Petersburg.

Britain and France set aside the idea of continuing negotiations, but Austria and Prussia do not believe that the rejection of the proposed amendments justifies the abandonment of the diplomatic process.