ANTHONY EDEN

hundred and fifty years before another Mr. Eden was
attempting to smooth out incompatible claims) : e It was re-
ported so long ago as on Monday evening last that dispatches
were received from Mr. Eden containing the result of what
had passed between him and the French ministers. They
stated that the preparations for war were going on in every
quarter of the French Dominions with as much zeal and
activity as had been shown in England itself. An answer has
been returned to this, requiring positive declarations con-
cerning the present view of that court (the French) with
such demands on our part as are said will be impossible to
comply with.'

In the same year and in the course of the same negotia-
tions William Eden was closely identified with the problem
of Non-Intervention- On this occasion the object was to
save Holland from the attentions of France, and to obtain
from the French Minister, De Montmorin, the declaration
that the French Government had not and never had the
intention of interfering with an armed force in the affairs
of Holland. De Montmorin played his part in providing
a precedent for 1938. First, by demanding the withdrawal
of Prussian troops before discussing the Dutch situation,
and, secondly, by putting forward the bland assurance that
no French troops had ever entered Holland.

In 1788 the importance of Eden first made itself felt in
Spain, for in that year William Eden was sent there as
ambassador, once again to direct and appease warlike
preparations. * Spain', we are told, ' is arming with as much
expedition as the nature of that sluggish people will allow
them to do'. Return from Spain brought promotion to an
Irish peerage. In 17(89 he was appointed ambassador to
Holland, and in the following years when war between
Spain and this country seemed inevitable, negotiated suc-
cessfully for Dutch assistance. Also in 1790 he concluded
and signed the great convention between the Austrian
Empire, Prussia, Great Britain, and the United Provinces