RUSSIA AT CONSTANTINOPLE.
rro THE EDITOR or THE " SPECTATOR.") Sia,—At a moment when German statesmen pretend to be aghast at the mere thought of Russia coming to Constantinople it may interest your readers to know that Bismarck expressed himself decisively on this subject in April, 1891. The circumstances were as follows: I visited the Prince in response to an invitation in that month. In the course of our conversations during the three days of my stay Bismarck said, that although the Turks possessed many admirable qualities, indeed were the only gentlemen in the East, they had no business in Europe. Some day the Russians might come to Constantinople; and if they guaranteed to the Sultan the expenses of his Harem, his Eunuchs and Pashas, he himself would not be so very averse to the deal. In reply to my query whether such an arrangement would not be detrimental to British interests, Bismarck said he did not think that such need be the case.
On my return to Berlin I mentioned this, casually, together with other topics of my different conversations with Bismarck, to the Times correspondent in that city. One or two minor points, if my memory be not at fault, he sent to his paper, notably Bismarck's reference to the Triple Alliance, as an essentially defensive pact, which did not involve an obligation upon Italy to maintain excessive armaments. This was directed against certain German newspaper articles which had accused Italy of being lukewarm in her adherence to the Triple Alliance. Bismarck's reference to Russia, however, struck me as being of so sensational a nature that I hesitated to take the responsibility of its appearing in print, and decided that I would first write to the Prince to ask his permission. I must still have, somewhere among my papers, the reply which Bismarck dictated to his private secretary, Dr. Chrysander. It said in substance that the Prince had received me as a friend, and not as a newspaper correspondent, which indeed I was not at that time. The matter to which I had drawn his attention was one which could not be dealt with cursorily, and he begged me to abstain from any reference to it, an injunc- tion which I naturally obeyed. At this distance of time, however, I see no reason for any further secrecy with regard to a conversa- tion which unquestionably took place.
My personal Reminiscences of Prince Bismarck (John Murray, 1902), long since out of print but obtainable at Mudie's, contains a number of references to other political topics of far more actual public interest to-day than they possessed at the time of publication, when few of us foresaw present developments.—I am,
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