VIII.

REMARKS UPON THE TREATY OF BERLIN.

The position of affairs-The Salisbury-Schouvaloff Memo randum and its disastrous effect on the negotiations at Berlin-Russia's gain-England and Austria the guardians of Turkey-Austria's vigorous and straightforward Balkan policy - Thwarted in Servia but triumphant in Bulgaria-Relations of Greece to Austria -Solution of the Crete question-Neutrality of Belgium threatened-Importance of Constantinople to Russia; the Anglo-Turkish Convention-England's feeble policy in Asia Minor-The question of Egypt-A new route to India by railway from the Mediterranean to Persian Gulf-England's relation to Constantinople.

LET us now review and make a few remarks on the Treaty of Berlin.

I

Firstly, the whole treaty seems to me to be virtually a repetition and revision of the conditions of the European concert in the Eastern question.

Prince Bismarck's opinion was that the

1 See Holland's "European Concert in the Eastern Question."

Treaty of San Stefano meant to alter "the state of things as fixed by former European Conventions," consequently the Berlin Congress followed for "the free discussion of the Cabinets' signatories of the treaties of 1856 and 1871."

The Treaties of Paris and London being still in force, and owing to the rise of a new nationality and the redistribution of territory, these treaties were altered and amended by the Congress.

Before we criticize the Treaty of Berlin we ought to bear two things in our mind. (1) At the Conference of Paris, 1856, England, France, and Turkey were victorious, while Russia was conquered. (2) At the Berlin Congress, 1878, Russia was victorious over Turkey, while. England and France were neutral.

In both meetings it was asserted and claimed that the Powers collectively had the right of settling the Eastern Question as against Russia's single-handed interference, England leading the van with fair words but selfish interests.

On Russia concluding the San Stefano Treaty with Turkey, England said that, according to the conditions of the Treaty of Paris, the Great Powers of Europe "engaged each on its own part to respect the independence and integrity of the Ottoman Empire," and consequently Turkish affairs produced a general interest throughout Europe.

Russia had committed a serious breach of "the law of nations by a treaty singlehanded with Turkey. When the European Congress at Berlin was consented to by Russia, England said that the Treaty of San Stefano was not valid without the consent of the signatory Powers of the Treaties of Paris and London. She also demanded from Russia that, "in the Congress itself, each Power should have full liberty of assent and free action." These demands: seemed perfectly reasonable. However, England, before the Berlin meeting, contracted a secret agreement with Russia, in which the modifications asked for by England in the Treaty of San Stefano were

specified. This agreement did not leave out the bringing in of other changes by mutual consent, but, if these failed, tended to be a mutual engagement by the ambassadors of Russia and Great Britain as to their general behaviour and conduct at the Congress. This secret agreement between the two Powers practically blocked the full liberty of the other Powers and the full amount of good they might otherwise have done. England had been one of the first to attack Russia for committing a breach of the Treaties of Paris and London; yet she overlooked the fact that she herself had morally broken the same treaties by her secret negotiation with Russia, the other Powers not being at the time cognizant of the fact.

Once more Russia, by the Black Sea Conference, had gained full freedom on the Black Sea, now she had regained the part of Bessarabia which she had lost during the Crimean War, the principal object of which was to drive Russia from the banks of the Danube. The above-mentioned territory was ceded to Russia through the influence

of Lord Salisbury, who had secretly promised Schouvaloff, the Russian ambassador, that he would support the Russian demand with regard to that land.

By the Berlin Treaty England and Austria were invested with a special responsibility for protecting the integrity of the Ottoman Empire against Russian aggression-England in Asia Minor, and Austria in the Balkans.

If Russia attacked through Asia Minor the English interests would be imperilled; and by the disappearance of the Balkan States, then Austria would be open to Russian immediate attacks-a consummation which would be little desired by that Power.

This responsibility has undoubtedly from that time engrossed the attention of Austria and Hungary. She has had to encounter several difficulties. Bessarabia was no longer a Turkish province, and had been ceded to Russia by the Salisbury-Schouvaloff memorandum. Also there was no possibility of the Balkan States being confede