The European powers continue to pursue diplomatic…
December 1853 CE
The European powers continue to pursue diplomatic avenues.
The representatives of the four neutral Great Powers—the United Kingdom, France, Austria and Prussia—meet in Vienna, where they draft a note that they hope will be acceptable to both the Russians and the Ottomans.
The peace terms arrived at by the four powers at the Vienna Conference are delivered to the Russians by the Austrian Foreign Minister Count Karl von Buol on December 5, 1853.
The note meets with the approval of Nicholas I, but Abdülmecid I rejects the proposal, feeling that the document's poor phrasing leaves it open to many different interpretations.
The United Kingdom, France and Austria unite in proposing amendments to mollify the Sultan, but the court of St. Petersburg ignores their suggestions.
The UK and France now 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.