The remarks of the distinguished Russian chronicled in the Times
end with a curious suggestion that when Russia takes Constantinople Britain should take Gallipoli. Russia, he says, only wants the Bosphorus, and so complete command of the Black Sea, and does not want to concern herself with the Mediterranean. She would, therefore, be quite content to see Britain hold the Dardanelles while she held the Bosphorus. That Russia might be willing that we should take Gallipoli is conceivable, but we trust that, however willing Russia may be, we shall not entertain this part of the proposal for a moment. We have no use for any more "places of arms" in the Medi- terranean. But that we do not want Gallipoli is no reason whatever, now that we hold Egypt so securely, why we should not welcome the appearance of Russia on the Bosphorus. The German Emperor would no doubt privately urge us to oppose Russia, and would tell us that if we weakened on the question of Constantinople it would be our ruin, and might even prevent his • being our ally; but we do not think that such arguments ought to be taken as conclusive.
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