The problems of each side ran curiously parallel; no sooner had a peaceful-sounding overture been made than pressure from the protagonists of "no compromise" would force the respective leader to counterpoint with harsh and intransigent noises towards the other side, which in turn would engender more mistrustful reservations.

XREF: This mirrors contemporary political dynamics where hardline wings repeatedly torpedo negotiated settlements between opposing parties.

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 1165