Walter Alison Phillips

“ Russia, Austria and Prussia would act as France should in respect of their ministers in Spain, and would give to France every countenance and assistance she might require, the details “being reserved to be specified in a treaty.” Wellington, on the other hand, replied on behalf of Great Britain that “having no knowledge of the cause of dispute, and not being able to form a judgment upon a hypothetical case, he could give no answer to any of the questions.” ”

“ In the Spanish Question Wellington was to give voice to the uncompromising opposition of Great Britain to the whole principle of intervention. In the Turkish Question, the probable raising of which "had alone induced the British governmentto send a plenipotentiary to the congress, he was to suggest the eventual necessity for recognizing the belligerent rights of the Greeks, and, in the event of concerted interven- tion, to be careful not to commit Great Britain beyond the limits of good offices. ”

“ Thus was proclaimed the open breach of Great Britain with the principles and policy of the Great Alliance, which is what gives to the congress its main historical interest.
See Cambridge Modern Hist., chap. i. "The Congresses," by W. Alison Phillips, and for authorities, ibid. p. ”