"Are you referring to the rumors that the United States intends to attack Canada?"
Palmerston naturally understood George Villiers's concerns, but he did not believe the Americans possessed the qualifications to challenge Britain in the slightest.
In the past, Palmerston would certainly have mocked George Villiers for worrying that the sky might fall. Given his current circumstances, doing so now would be courting death.
Palmerston had always been arrogant and overbearing, but he was no Le Charivari.
George Villiers nodded.
"If the Americans start another war, then we truly will be stretched beyond our limits.
The Near East has already consumed far too much of our attention. Add Brazil to the equation, and I am beginning to suspect that someone is conspiring to divide our strength."
Palmerston smiled.
"You are overthinking it. What is happening in Brazil may be a conspiracy, but what is happening in the United States certainly is not. After all, even the Americans themselves do not know what they want to do.
Hasn't there recently been news that they intend to attack Mexico again?"
George Villiers also found it absurd. After all, Mexico was Austrian Empire territory. The Austrian Empire was not involved in the war at present; if a fight truly broke out, the Americans would surely drop to their knees at light speed, just as they had when liberating Cuba.
The Austrian Empire had now become a force that could not be ignored. Even Britain, as it stood now, had to first determine Austria's stance before daring to launch a war.
Yet George Villiers still believed that joining the Near East War had been a mistake. What if the Austrians suddenly stabbed them in the back?
Everything now was entirely the result of John Russell's stubborn insistence, but there was nothing he could do