Proposed Settlement in 1867

23

their mental equilibrium. Surely it requires very little intelligence to see that the most likely way to prolong the framework of the Turkish Empire is to compel the Sultan to make life tolerable for his subjects. And this has hitherto been the policy of the Great Powers. Let me give an example from each of the Powers who are most interested in preventing the sudden disruption of Turkey-Austria and Russia. In 1867 Count Beust, then Prime Minister of Austria, declared that Austria wished to encourage among the Christian population of Turkey 'a wider development of their privileges, and to promote the establishment of a system of autonomy, to be limited only by a tie of vassalage. This, moreover, would be the surest means of making lasting peace between the Sultan and the Rayahs.' In a subsequent despatch Count Beust proposed a medical consultation' of the Great Powers on the condition of the Sick Man and the distribution of his territory'; suggesting the necessity of 'heroic remedies,' beginning with the annexation of Crete to Greece. In that year Prince Gortchakoff advocated the same policy, and expressed his opinion that the only possible escape open to the Powers from the course of expedience and palliatives, which up to the present had but served to increase the difficulties,' was to promote 'the gradual development of autonomous States' among the Christian population of Turkey. The French Government

24

War against England a Myth

cordially supported Count Beust's policy, while England alone opposed it. This is the very policy which Russia and Austria have now, it is said, combined to prevent by force of arms. I cannot believe that Russia is partner in a scheme which would imply the policy not of statesmen but of lunatics.

So much for my first suggestion as to what I consider feasible in this crisis. I believe that the anti-English Press of Germany and Austria is playing a game of bluff. England has, in other days, stood alone against a world in arms, and she is not now going to cringe and cower before the swashbucklers of the Continental Press, who would soon begin to sing another tune if England took them at their word. I have hope that Lord Salisbury will be able to bring the other Powers to reason on the Armenian as he did on the Cretan question. But everything depends on his being backed up loyally by the country. His record on the Eastern question is but little understood. I hope to find time to give a summary of it later, as well as to suggest some additional means of suppressing the homicidal amusements of Abdul Hamid.

CHAPTER III.

MUSULMANS DESIRE EUROPEAN CONTROL.

I TRUST that in all meetings on this subject no attempt will be made in resolutions or otherwise to dictate any specific policy to the Government. The choice of effective means must be left to the Government, and if the meetings are to do good instead of harm, their aim must be to show foreign nations that Lord Salisbury will have the whole country, without distinction of party, at his back in putting an end to the inhuman orgies in which the contemptible miscreant of Yildiz Kiosk has been allowed too long to indulge. Let there be no criticisms or recriminations about the past. Let bygones be bygones henceforth on all sides. Both parties-i.e. the whole nation—are grievously to blame for the insane endeavour for half a century to protect a moribund and foul tyranny against the inevitable Nemesis of its own incurable vices. The Ottoman Empire has now arrived at that pass so tersely described by the Roman historian. It can no longer endure either its vices or their remedies. It can no more be vitalised into a new

26

Ottoman Empire moribund

lease of life than could the mesmerised semidefunct corpse in Edgar Poe's hideous tale. Not all Germany's horses nor all Austria's men can put Humpty-Dumpty on the wall again; and if they are wise in their own interests they will join England in helping to provide a bloodless euthanasia in lieu of a violent dissolution for the most infamous despotism which Providence has ever permitted to afflict mankind. How to provide that euthanasia is the subject of our present discussion. I have suggested one method, which still seems to me the best. Propose a self-denying ordinance to the other Powers, and convince Russia especially that England has no arrière-pensée in this matter, and I believe the Northern Powers will find their interest in acting with Lord Salisbury instead of against him in saving the political framework of the Turkish Empire for some years to come. And let the remedy include not Armenia only, but all the disturbed regions of the Turkish Empire. Governors be appointed under the control of the Powers, with force enough to keep order, and of course with due regard to the circumstances of each place.

Let

It would probably be best to let Russia administer Armenia under the nominal rule of the Sultan, as we administer native States in India-i.e. under the supervision of a Political Resident. Similar provision might be made for Macedonia, and I believe the Musulmans them

Deposition of the Sultan

27

selves, outside the official class who batten and fatten on corruption, would welcome such a relief from the intolerable yoke of Abdul Hamid. I doubt whether a hundred Musulmans can be found outside the walls of Yildiz Kiosk who would not rejoice at the deposition of the Sultan, or at the extraction of his claws and fangs. He is detested throughout his empire, over which he has spread a network of espionage which has crushed out all freedom of speech, and almost of thought. In Constantinople and the neighbourhood he is hated and loathed by Christians and Musulmans alike. The Turks are at least a brave race, and they feel humiliated in having over them a wretched coward who trembles at his own shadow. Moreover, they do not believe that he is a Turk at all. The general belief among Musulmans and Christians in Constantinople is that Abdul Hamid is the son of an Armenian menial in Abdul Medjid's service by an Armenian slave girl in that Sultan's harem. Among the Musulmans he is known, sotto voce, as 'the Armenian Bastard.' Doubtless this has reached his ears, and it probably accounts in part for his policy of extermination against the Armenians, in the hope of clearing himself in the eyes of his Musulman subjects from any suspicion of favouring his own race. A proposal to depose him would therefore be hailed with satisfaction by the Musulmans, not only on account of his cruel despotism, but also because