Some information as to the Russian Message to Lord Derby
is shortly to be published officially, but meanwhile the Paris Cor- respondent of the Times forwards a sketch which he believes be exactly accurate. Prince Gortachakoff states that Russia will not disturb the Suez Canal, as it involves too many interests ; that she will not carry the war into Egypt, and that she will not enter the Persian Gulf ; but adds that as regards Constantinople, though the Emperor does not wish to take possession of a city which ought not to belong to any European Power, still nobody can predict the course of a war. Still neither the question of Constantinople nor that of the Dardanelles can be settled apart from Europe. The policy of Russia is always misunderstood, and arriere-pensees attributed to her which she does not entertain, but as the Emperor has been forced to draw the sword, he will not sheathe it till all questions at issue have been settled. This grave declaration, which points to an occupation, but not an annexation of Constantinople, is re- ported to Pasis by a writer at Plojesti, who says, "I have just read Prince Gortschakoff's reply." The Note and its contents must have been well known to Lord Derby before he endorsed Lord Salisbury's speech at Merchant Taylors.'
