CHAPTER 372: CHAPTER 367, 2ND CABINET DEBATE

After receiving the report handed to him by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russell, the Earl of Aberdeen at 10 Downing Street quickly read through all the contents and memorized the keywords of the report.

Then, Aberdeen put down the report, clasped his hands on the desk, leaned forward slightly, and asked, "Lord Russell, what do you think of Lord Seymour’s report?"

As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Russell immediately reiterated his anti-Russia stance, responding neither humbly nor arrogantly, "I think the contents of the report are utter nonsense. The Russian Empire’s ambitions in the Near East are already evident. The theory of partition he suggested is merely an expedient when he cannot completely annex the Ottoman Empire.

One could easily tell that the Russian Empire would never give up the occupation of Constantinople!"

Russell used his sharp words to attack Lord Seymour’s report. In his view, Lord Seymour must have gone mad to propose such recommendations.

Based on his analysis of his diplomatic envoy’s disposition, Russell surmised that Lord Seymour must have accepted bribes from Nicholas I to speak so favorably of him in the report.

Minister Russell was not averse to diplomats accepting bribes, but at the very least, one must adhere to professional conduct in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Writing flattering reports too blatantly could easily provoke controversy.

While listening to Minister Russell’s anti-Russia rhetoric, Prime Minister Aberdeen contemplated the diplomatic direction of the United Kingdom.

Indeed, Prime Minister Aberdeen was known in the coalition government (formed without any majority by the Whig Party and Tory Party) as a pro-Russian politician, with many "pro-Russia" actions during his tenure as a Cabinet Minister.

The most famous "pro-Russia" incident was the 1844 Holy Land decision, when Prime Minister Aberdeen, then the Minister of Foreign Affairs, supported the Russian Empire in the Holy Land decision.

Since then, Nicholas I believed that Aberdeen himself supported the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire. The partition policy he proposed was also based on this premise.

However, Nicholas I did not know that Aberdeen’s pro-Russia stance was only to the extent that it did not affect Britain’s own interests. Nicholas I’s partition policy, appearing to consider Britain’s interests, in fact harmed the Kingdom of Britain and disturbed the peace of the Near East.

No matter how close Aberdeen appeared to be with the Russian Empire, he could not agree with Nicholas I’s partition methods.

After thinking for a moment, Prime Minister Aberdeen sighed to himself.

Sitting across from Prime Minister Aberdeen, Russell transformed into a mischievous instigator, calmly and pleasantly addressing Prime Minister Aberdeen, "Mr. Prime Minister, now is not the time to sigh! Our Ministry of Foreign Affairs dares not agree with Ambassador Seymour’s report! Please, Your Excellency, give us some guidance!"

Seeing that Russell intended to shift the blame onto himself, the "unfortunate" Prime Minister of the coalition government, Prime Minister Aberdeen displayed a displeased expression.

If not for the current need to keep Russell and others in cooperation, Aberdeen would have long kicked the two troublemakers in the Cabinet up to the Upper House.

Aberdeen’s displeased expression was fully taken in by Russell, and Minister Russell couldn’t help but feel a touch of schadenfreude.

Sitting steadily in the position of Cabinet Prime Minister was not something just anyone could achieve; in his early days, he had faced it cautiously, as if walking on thin ice.

He had unfortunately encountered an economic crisis, ending his term with a reputation for "ineffective governance."

The current situation was clearly not one that Aberdeen, skilled in avoiding conflict, could resolve!

Except for himself, only Palmerston was left in the whole Cabinet.

"Let’s discuss this matter in the Cabinet meeting!" Once again, Aberdeen resorted to Cabinet voting tactics.

The downside of a coalition government was that the Prime Minister could not fully control the Cabinet, necessitating negotiations to resolve issues.

However, this drawback was a convenient excuse for Aberdeen to pass the buck at the moment.

"Understood!" Minister Russell voiced a tinge of regret.

If Aberdeen could have taken some radical steps at this moment, he was confident he could overthrow Aberdeen the next day.

Too bad, Aberdeen was mediocre, but he was no fool.

Two days later, on February 20, 1853,

the Cabinet meeting began once more. After all ministers from various departments were present, Cabinet Prime Minister Aberdeen officially started the meeting.

Although they did not rush to present Lord Seymour’s report at the beginning of the Cabinet meeting, all ministers present knew that Lord Seymour’s report would inevitably become the bureaucratic focus of the entire session.

Prime Minister Aberdeen first took out the financial report from the Ministry of Finance and read it aloud, then had William Gladstone, the Minister of Finance, explain the purpose of each expenditure.

When William Gladstone mentioned that the financial allocation to the Ministry of Internal Affairs had increased from the previous year, Prime Minister Aberdeen displayed a dissatisfied expression and ordered the Minister of Internal Affairs, Palmerston, to explain the origins of the expenditure.

Everyone instantly realized that a war without gunsmoke had begun.

Palmerston was merely the first target of the Prime Minister against a portion of the opposition.

Palmerston maintained his calm demeanor as he addressed Prime Minister Aladdin, explaining the financial issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

"A large portion of the budget for the Ministry of Internal Affairs is allocated to maintaining stability in Paris and the surrounding counties. This year, the Police Department alone has increased by 1.2 times compared to the previous year! The increase in personnel will inevitably lead to a rise in expenses!"

"What is the point of adding so many police officers?" Prime Minister Aladdin continued to question Palmerston.

"The crime rate this year has decreased compared to the previous year, and the city security is better than last year!" Palmerston said to Prime Minister Aladdin, then immediately handed over a crime comparison report to him.

Palmerston seemed like a prophet who saw it coming.

Seeing the crime rate report Palmerston handed to him, Aberdeen’s face looked as if he had swallowed a fly.

After addressing the issues of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Aladdin asked William Gladstone to continue with his report.

Once the financial expenditures of all departments were clarified, Prime Minister Aladdin nodded in satisfaction.

Next, was the main part of the agenda.

"Recently, Ambassador Seymour gave me a report that contains his conversation with the Emperor of the Russian Empire! Now, I’ll distribute it to you all for us to discuss together!" Aberdeen indicated for the Cabinet’s permanent secretary beside him to distribute copies of Seymour’s report.

Copies were handed out to each person’s desk, and everyone carefully reviewed the contents of the report.

Although they had a general understanding of what Seymour’s report covered, most had not seen the contents before.

Three minutes after the distribution, a voice rang out on the cabinet bench: "Nonsense! Absolute nonsense!"

All the cabinet ministers turned their eyes toward the speaker, who was, in fact, Minister of Finance William Gladstone.

"Prime Minister, Britain cannot agree to this request from the Russian Empire!" William Gladstone said to Prime Minister Aberdeen.

Aberdeen, who thought Palmerston would be the first opponent, was surprised to find that William Gladstone was also a potential "opponent."

"I am aware some of the content is unreasonable, which is why I wanted you all to have a look! Let’s discuss and formulate a countermeasure together!" Prime Minister Aberdeen said to William Gladstone with a still amiable tone.

"Prime Minister, with all due respect! The conditions within the report are all unreasonable! Nicholas I repeatedly states the Ottoman Empire has completely decayed, but has he forgotten they are undergoing the Tanzimat Reforms?" Palmerston, following William Gladstone, continued to fire back, with an even more aggressive approach than the Minister of Finance.

The Tanzimat Reforms refer to the mid-19th-century reform measures in the Ottoman Empire, aimed at national survival, which were viewed favorably by some in Britain.

In their view, the reforms in the Ottoman Empire could allow Britain to control the Empire effortlessly.

Globally, besides a few European Great Powers, particularly France, Austria, and Russia (with the latter two having little worth coveting), none could withstand Britain’s overwhelming force in the field of free trade.

If it weren’t for France’s heavy tariffs backed by a strong military, the nascent bourgeoisie of France’s industry wouldn’t withstand the output from the world’s "only" industrial nation.

By leveraging high tariffs and the luxury goods industry, France successfully turned the trade with Britain into a surplus—and one that continues to grow.

Poor Ottoman Empire, incapable of raising tariffs, would find it a pipe dream for its domestic bourgeoisie to stand alone against Britain’s juggernaut.

Tanzimat Reforms provided the Ottoman Empire with an opportunity to transform from a feudal to a capitalist society, though whether the emerging bourgeoisie would be comprador or national is yet to be determined.

For cabinet members like Palmerston, Tanzimat Reforms served as the perfect pretext.

"Indeed!"

"Exactly!"

Cabinet members continually echoed Palmerston; while their reasons for support might vary, their role was decisive.

Soon, more than half of the cabinet members supported Palmerston’s decision, and some even believed the Tsar’s claim of the Ottoman Empire’s impending collapse was merely an excuse for their aggression.

Amid nearly half of the cabinet ministers’ rebuttals, Prime Minister Aberdeen ordered Russell to have Lord Seymour draft a new report.

The cabinet meeting ended with a complete defeat of the "Pro-Russian" faction, and Prime Minister Aberdeen’s esteem was on the decline within the cabinet.

On February 23, Lord Seymour, residing in the embassy in St. Petersburg, received a letter from Russell.

Russell sternly demanded Seymour make an "accurate account," without any personal biases.

Lord Seymour instantly realized that Lord Aberdeen in the cabinet might have failed.

Thus, a brand new report was drafted by Seymour.