At a meeting of the Conference, the English and French Ambassadors presented proposals relative to the measures to be adopted _for the protection_ of the _Suez Canal_, and asked the Conference to designate the Powers who should be charged, in case of need, to take the measures specially necessary for the purpose. The four other representatives reserved to themselves the right of referring the matter to their respective Governments. On the 20th July Her Majesty's Government ordered the despatch of the expedition to Egypt. On the 21st the Austrian Government declined to join in giving to other Powers the _mandat_ proposed for the defence of the Canal. On the 22nd Lord Granville made the following proposal to the French Government:-- 1. Unless the Porte sends an acceptance of a kind immediately available, the English and French representatives should be instructed to say to the other Ambassadors that England and France can no longer rely upon Turkish intervention; and as they consider immediate action necessary to _prevent further loss of life and continuance of anarchy_, they intend, unless the Conference has any other plan, to devise with a third Power, if possible, military means for procuring a solution. 2. To ask Italy to be that third Power. 3. To consult immediately upon the division of labour. 4. The Suez Canal may be included in the general scheme of allied action.[43] M. de Freycinet, in reply, cautiously stated that the French Government understood that the measures to be taken by them for the protection of the Canal would not extend to any expedition into the interior of the country, but would be limited to naval operations, and to the occupation of certain points on the Canal itself; _and that although they would not object to an expedition by England into the interior of Egypt_, they could not themselves take part in any such expedition. He added that before giving an official answer he must bring the matter before the Council of Ministers. The German Chargé d'Affaires stated to Lord Dufferin and the French Ambassador, in very positive terms, that the northern Governments would never agree to a mandate, that it would be better for England to go forward at once by herself, and that every one admitted that the reserve made under the term _force majeure_ would cover anything that she might be obliged to do in Egypt. On the 23rd July the Sultan determined to allow Said Pasha and Assim Pasha to represent him at the Conference. At the meeting, the following day, the two Ottoman delegates took their seats, and the other delegates having given the Turkish representatives to understand that a formal answer was expected to the Identic Note of the 15th July, the Turkish Minister declared that "he accepted in principle the despatch of Ottoman troops to Egypt."