"A secret agreement is enough. The Austrians cannot make a public declaration; otherwise, things would be much simpler."
Nearly every member of the British Cabinet, including John Russell and George Hamilton-Gordon, firmly believed in this secret agreement signed by the Austrian Empire. After all, by their understanding, it wholly conformed to the Austrian Empire's interests.
And even when it came to secret agreements, great powers generally would not deliberately violate them—especially a relatively traditional royal house like the House of Habsburg.
Had this secret agreement been signed by the Russians, probably hardly anyone in the British Cabinet would have believed it. In the British saying, the agreements the Russians had torn up were no fewer than the sheets of toilet paper the Tsar had used.
Yet this secret agreement still put John Russell and George Hamilton-Gordon in something of a bind, because it stipulated that so long as Britain and its allies did not attack Russian soil, the Austrian Empire would remain neutral in the war.
But they were not military men, after all. In John Russell and George Hamilton-Gordon's view, the Ottoman Empire would be doing well just to hold its own territory. Where would it find the strength to attack Russian soil?
Taking ten thousand steps back, if the Ottoman Empire truly had the ability to attack Russian soil, would that not mean the balance of power between attacker and defender had already been reversed?
At that point, would the Austrians still have the courage to join the war?
Thus, both John Russell and George Hamilton-Gordon were extremely satisfied with this secret agreement.
After a round of flattery and compliments, George Villiers brought up another matter.
"The expenses for this diplomatic operation were somewhat high, but I believe they were worth it. Wouldn't you agree, Prime Minister?"
George