casus belli

Unfortunately we had no casus belli against Spain, and could not found one on secret information.

Here, as I have said, was the real casus belli,—a constant irritation that had at length got past bearing.

The Porte was persuaded not to regard the invasion of the Danube principalities as a casus belli.

Then, in case of such special edict, Martha Biggs should go, and thence should arise the new casus belli.

The casus belli was simple, but, as reported, most irritating.