THIRD MARQUESS OF SALISBURY 269
Russia agreed, while arrogantly reserving to her- self the liberty of accepting for discussion only such points as she thought fit. Negotiations were consequently broken off, the reserves called out, and to the relief of the Government, Lord Derby, who had for some time been in disagreement with his colleagues, finally resigned (March 28th).
In explaining the reasons for his resignation in the House of Lords, some months later, Lord Derby said that the Cabinet had decided to send a " secret naval expedition " to seize the island of Cyprus, together with a point on the Syrian coast. Thereupon Lord Salisbury " very pointedly contradicted him, on the authority, not only of his own memory, but of the memories of several of his colleagues " ; l and he further proceeded to compare his revelations with those of Titus Gates. This regrettable misunder- standing arose, according to Sir Stafford Northcote, from the failure of Lord Derby "<to distinguish between a conversation about certain undecided points, and a decision about another point, the Reserves." 2 The difference of opinion was accentuated by the personal antagonism which always existed between the two men, in spite of their close connection by marriage. Lord Derby afterwards joined Gladstone's ministry as Colonial Secretary, and Lord Salisbury remarked of him that he " never strayed far from the frontier lines of either party, where he expended
1 Andrew Lang, Life of Sir S. Northcote, II. 107. a Ibid., II. 108.
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