5.] When this much was conceded, there remained no irreconcilable difference, unless the treaty contained secret articles which Russia claimed to keep back from the Congress.

As far as we know, there were none.

But the fact is that the dispute, small as it now appears to us, was intensified by the suspicions and resentment prevalent on both sides.

The final decision of the St.Petersburg Government was couched in somewhat curt and threatening terms: "It leaves to the other Powers the liberty of raising such questions at the Congress as they may think it fit to discuss, and reserves to itself the liberty of accepting, or not accepting, the discussion of these questions[166]." [Footnote 166: _Ibid_.No.15, p.

7.] This haughty reply, received at Downing Street on March 27, again brought the two States to the verge of war.