Nicholas’s answer was filled with grievances against the West. Nicholas shared Pogodin’s sense that Russia’s role as the protector of Orthodox Christians in the Ottoman Empire was not understood and that Russia was unfairly treated by the West. Nicholas especially approved of the following passage:[31]<\/p>\n
France takes Algeria<\/a> from Turkey, and almost every year England annexes another Indian<\/a> principality: none of this disturbs the balance of power; but when Russia occupies Moldavia and Wallachia, albeit only temporarily, that disturbs the balance of power. France occupies Rome<\/a> and stays there several years during peacetime: that is nothing; but Russia only thinks of occupying Constantinople, and the peace of Europe is threatened. The English declare war on the Chinese<\/a>, who have, it seems, offended them: no one has the right to intervene; but Russia is obliged to ask Europe for permission if it quarrels with its neighbour. ….. We can expect nothing from the West but blind hatred and malice…. <\/span><\/em><\/p>\n [Comment in the margin by Nicholas I: ‘This is the whole point’.]<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n “The Long History of Russian Whataboutism”<\/a><\/p>\n *<\/p>\n https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Yury_Tynyanov<\/a><\/p>\n