Note 207 — BOOK THE FOURTH 1815-1821

[See ante, p. 188. The statement, however, that Alexander would have been otherwise unable to reach Paris seems an extreme view of the case. The Allies had won their way to the capital by force of arms, and whatever decision had been arrived at with regard to the future government of France, they would have been obliged to occupy the city. The failure of the Congress of Chatillon was primarily due, not to the intrigues of the Bourbons, but to the unwillingness of Napoleon to seize the opportunity of making peace.]