ASIA MINOR.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE"SPECTATOR.']
have read with pleasure your qualified approval of my sug- gestion that in case of war between Russia and Turkey we should offer to purchase the western portion of Asia Minor. You sug- gest, however, that one or two Greek islands would be equally important to us. From this I venture to differ, because the Dardanelles are the key of the Black Sea. If the Russians held both the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles, they could at any thus throw the whole of their Black-Sea fleet on any point in the long line of the Mediterranean portion of our route to India.
This would necessitate our keeping a very large fleet constantly in the Mediterranean, and even then the protection of our com- merce would be very imperfect. None of the Greek islands would, I think, from this point of view, be of much importance to us. On the other hand, if we held the Dardanelles, the strength of the Russian fleet in the Black Sea would be comparatively im- material to us. As far as our interests are concerned, a very small extent of territory would be sufficient, and it is all, I think, that we need care for ; still, if we were to acquire the western portion of Asia :Minor, it would be an immense advantage to the people of that country,—and it is impossible not to hope that the example of what would be effected by a wise and pure Govern- ment might lead to an improvement in other parts of Turkey in Asia.—I am, Sir, &c.,
Previous page
