Britain feared that weakening the Sultan would make him a Russian vassal

Evidence

We ought to tell the Pasha forthwith to retire to Egypt [he wrote to Granville, the Ambassador to Paris] … That the possession of Syria must carry with it that of Bagdad, a glance of the map will serve to shew … But it is very doubtful whether it could be for the advantage of England that the Sultan should be so weakened and that a new state should be created in Egypt, Syria and Bagdad. It is obvious that so great a defalcation from the territory and resources of the Sultan would render him less able than he is now to resist Russia, and that he would really become her vassal … This is by no means what we wish … ” Nevertheless, and in spite of this clear position, when in November 1832 the Sultan requested British naval protection to defend Istanbul, Palmerston answered him four months later saying that Britain could not order the dispatch of the required squadron. — Khaled Fahmy, All the Pasha_s Men_ Mehmed Ali, his…, 1573

Categorization

• FICTION: Not really fiction.