army to cross the Turkish

the Emperor to his army to frontier.

When I had finished the reading of the Despatch, Prince Gortschakoff said that he was anxious to avoid a polemical discussion, which could lead to no good result, and it was not his intention, unless the Emperor should order otherwise, to make any rejoinder. His Highness made no further observation, and received the communication with his usual calmness and in no unfriendly mood.

At the request of the Turkish Government, Her Majesty's Government consented to take charge of Turkish subjects in Russia during the war. I was, therefore, instructed to undertake this charge, having previously obtained the assent of the Imperial Government. It was rather a responsible duty, particularly as no Turkish funds were provided for their assistance or repatriation.

CHAPTER X.

Correspondence between Lord Derby and Prince Gortschakoff in regard to British Interests during the War-Satisfactory Reply of Prince Gortschakoff-Departure of Emperor for Seat of War, and of Prince Gortschakoff for Bucharest-Invitation to a "Te Deum" in Commemoration of Battle of Navarino Declined-Military Operations-Guards ordered to Seat of War -Plevna-Russians Repulsed in Three Attacks-Prince of Roumania joins Russians with his Army-General Todleben Summoned-Fall of Plevna on December 10th-Russian Successes in Asia-Kars Taken-Erzeroum Invested -Servia Declares War against Turkey-The Porte asks, through Her Majesty's Government, for Peace-Emperor will entertain Proposals if addressed Direct by the Porte to Russian Commanders-in-Chief in Europe and Asia-Preliminaries and Armistice Signed end of January, 1878-War Ended, but Russian Army continues its March-British Fleet Ordered to Constantinople-Death of Grand Duke Serge-Correspondence with Baron

Jomini.

On the declaration of war by the Imperial Government, and with the view of maintaining the good understanding between Great Britain and Russia during its continuance, Lord Derby addressed a letter to Count Schouvaloff, the Russian Ambassador (who was on the eve of leaving for St. Petersburg), in regard to considerations of importance affecting British interests in the East which might be endangered in the course of events during the war.

In this letter, dated May 6th, 1877, Lord Derby stated that he did not enter on the question of the justice or necessity of the war: he had already expressed the views of Her Majesty's Government with regard to it.

Further discussion (he said) would be unavailing, and they have lost no time in issuing a Proclamation of Neutrality. Should the war unfortunately spread, interests may be imperilled which they are equally bound and determined to defend; and it was desirable to make it clear, so far as at the outset of the war it could be done, what the most prominent of those interests

were.

Foremost is the necessity of keeping open, uninjured and uninterrupted, the Suez Canal. An attempt to blockade or otherwise interfere with the canal or its approaches would be regarded by Her Majesty's Government as a menace to India, and as a grave injury to the commerce of the world. On both these grounds any such step would be inconsistent with the maintenance by them of an attitude of passive neutrality.

The mercantile and financial interests of European nations are also so largely involved in Egypt that an attack on that country, or its occupation, even temporarily, for purposes of war, could scarcely be regarded with unconcern by neutral Powers-certainly not by England.

The vast importance of Constantinople, whether in a military, a political, or a commercial point of view, is too well understood to require explanation. It is, therefore, scarcely necessary to point out that Her Majesty's Government are not prepared to witness with indifference the passing into other hands than those of its present possessors of a capital holding so peculiar and commanding a position.

The existing arrangements, made under European sanction, which regulate the navigation of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles appear to them wise and salutary, and there would be, in their judgment, serious objections to their alteration in any material particular.

Her Majesty's Government have thought it right thus frankly to indicate their views. The course of events might show that there were still other interests-as, for instance, on the Persian Gulf-which it would be their duty to protect; but they do not doubt that they will have sufficiently pointed out

4

the limits within which they hope that the war may be confined, or at all events within which they themselves would be prepared, so far as present circumstances allow of an opinion being formed, to maintain a policy of abstention and neutrality.

They feel confident that the Emperor of Russia will appreciate their desire to make their policy understood at the outset of the war, and thus to respond to the assurances given by His Imperial Majesty at Livadia, and published at your Excellency's request, where he pledged his word of honour that he had no intention of acquiring Constantinople, and that if necessity should oblige him to occupy a portion of Bulgaria, it would only be provisionally, and until the peace and safety of the Christian populations were assured.

Such were the British interests in the East (or, as Count Schouvaloff termed them to me, "the Breetish Torpedoes") which might be seriously affected by the course of events during the war, and which would influence the policy of Her Majesty's Government during that war.

At an interview with Prince Gortschakoff on the 21st of May I referred to the above letter of Lord Derby, which had been some days previously delivered to him by Count Schouvaloff. His Highness requested me to inform Lord Derby by telegraph that the Emperor fully appreciated the frankness of the explanations of the views of Her Majesty's Government therein contained (his words were: "L'Empereur sait gré à Lord Derby pour la franchise avec laquelle, il a exposé les vues du Gouvernement de la Reine"), and that the Imperial Government would evince the same frankness in the answer which was being prepared, and of which Count Schouvaloff would be the bearer. He added that Count

Schouvaloff would leave for London five or six days after the departure of the Emperor for the headquarters of his army in Roumania, which would be on the 2nd of June. I here observed that the delay in the receipt by Her Majesty's Government of the reply to Lord Derby's letter appeared to me somewhat long, inasmuch as important British interests were at stake. The Prince replied that Count Schouvaloff was now entirely occupied with bringing to a satisfactory issue the important questions referred to in Lord Derby's letter, adding: "C'est le meilleur avocat que vous puissiez avoir."

The following is an analysis of the reply of Prince Gortschakoff to Lord Derby's letter, dated St. Petersburg, May 18, 1877

Prince Gortschakoff stated that the Emperor had perused Lord Derby's letter with deep interest, and appreciated the frankness of its explanation; and he was instructed to reply to it with complete reciprocity, both on the points raised by Lord Derby and on those that affected interests which His Imperial Majesty was bound to protect.

The Imperial Cabinet would neither blockade, nor interrupt, nor in any way menace the navigation of the Suez Canal. They considered the canal as an international work, in which the commerce of the world was interested, and which should be kept free from any attack.

Egypt was a part of the Ottoman Empire, and its contingents figured in the Turkish army. Russia might, therefore, consider herself as at war with Egypt. Nevertheless, the Imperial Cabinet did not overlook either the European interests engaged in that country or those of England in particular. They would not bring Egypt within the radius of their military operations.

As far as concerned Constantinople, without being able to