22 AUGUST 1896, Page 14

LETTERS TO TIIE EDITOR.

CONSTANTINOPLE.

[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."]

STR,—The Emperor Napoleon I. considered that whoever had possession of Constantinople would have the Empire of the world. Goethe said : "The Turks cannot be driven out of Con- stantinople, because no Christian nation can be master there without being master ef the world ; bat Turkey can be- mutilated and reduced in Europe as much as the Greek Emperors in the last two centuries."—I am, Sir, &c., M. P.

[Has our correspondent noticed that, as a matter of fact, no.Power which has held Constantinople in the past has ever- been master of the world ? The energy and power of a race,. not geographical position, give Empire.—En. Spectator.1