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provinces of Asia Minor would have proved to the various races our
positive determination to uphold their rights； and to defend them from
the oppression and extortion to which they had been subjected。 Such a
position would have given England the control that is absolutely
necessary to effect the reforms in the administration of Asia Minor；
without which the result will be anarchy and revolution within a few
years； fostered by Russia precisely in accordance with the policy that
has terminated in the disruption of Turkey in Europe。
In the same despatch of 30th May； 1878； Lord Salisbury continues：
〃Her Majesty's Government intimated to the Porte on the
occasion of the Conference at Constantinople that they
were not prepared to sanction misgovernment and
oppression； and it will be requisite before they can
enter into any agreement for the defence of the Asiatic
territories of the Porte in certain eventualities； that
they should be formally assured of the intention of the
Porte to introduce the necessary reforms into the
government of the Christian and other subjects of the
Porte in those regions。 IT IS NOT DESIRABLE TO REQUIRE
MORE THAN AN ENGAGEMENT IN GENERAL TERMS； FOR THE
SPECIFIC MEASURES TO BE TAKEN COULD ONLY BE DEFINED
AFTER A MORE CAREFUL INQUIRY AND DELIBERATION THAN
COULD BE SECURED AT THE PRESENT JUNCTURE。〃
The italics are my own； for the weak point of the Convention is
exhibited by this sentence。
No 〃general terms〃 should ever be mentioned in a communication with
Orientals； and no convention should have been concluded with the Porte；
unless every detail had been previously considered and specially agreed
upon between the contracting parties。 When this Convention was made
public； I concluded that the British government contemplated the
official employment of a certain number of their own officers to carry
out the spirit of the agreement； without which the Convention would be a
farce； at the same time I was convinced that the suspicions of the
Turkish government and the stubborn pride of the race would resist any
such direct interference upon the part of England。 Under these
conditions Asia Minor would remain exactly where it was。 A grand scheme
which would have had immense political results； had the Turks accepted
our interference in the honourable spirit of our intentions； has been
frustrated by their want of confidence； and the Convention remains；
containing an agreement of stupendous importance； by which England is
committed to a military undertaking of the first magnitude； while Turkey
risks nothing except her 〃PROMISES OF REFORM in the administration of
her Asiatic provinces。〃
〃British interests〃 in this transaction are represented by Cyprus； which
we occupy as tenantspaying 96；000 pounds a year for the ruined house；
and leaving ourselves no balance from the revenue for the necessary
repairs。
There is no more difficult political associate than the Turk； his
defensive weapon is delay； and in moments of the greatest emergency his
peculiar apathy or patience never forsakes him。 Proud and haughty to a
superlative degree； in his heart he detests all extraneous counsel and
interference； and would rather glide onward to destruction than grasp
the hand stretched out to save him。 Turkey has expected much from
England； and has made a poor return for our sacrifice of blood and
treasure during the Crimean war。 She obtained an ephemeral financial
reputation through the aid of France and England in becoming guarantees
for a public loan； upon this false position she traded until the
inevitable bankruptcy plunged her into ruin； and opened the gate for the
entrance of her enemies； at the same time that dishonesty entailed the
severance of friends。 England has from mutual interests endeavoured to
preserve her from absolute dissolution； and the Protectorate of Asia
Minor was a step of political audacity in her favour that surprised the
world。 This extraordinary offer of material aid has been met by the same
want of confidence that has marked the decline of the Turkish Empire；
the only extra interference in Asia Minor has been the appointment of a
few additional British consuls。 These gentlemen will report long lists
of abuses； and the general mal…administration of the Turkish officials；
they will be hated accordingly； and being absolutely powerless for good；
they will simply keep the Foreign Office informed of what was thoroughly
well known before。 Remonstrances upon our part will be made to the
Porte； who will deny the accuracy of the consular reports； and
ultimately a special commission will be sent out； which will prove their
correctness； the Porte will again promise amendment； but will not
sanction the appointment of British officials。 In this old…fashioned
course； so thoroughly understood by all who have any knowledge of
Turkey； the affairs of Asia Minor will be conducted； until revolution
shall bring Russia upon the scene at the most favourable opportunity；
and England； who has been thwarted by the Power she has endeavoured to
save； will； by the terms of the Convention； be compelled to appear in
arms as the defender of the remnant of the Turkish Empire。
Common sense would suggest the absolute necessity of special and clearly
defined conditions in concluding an alliance with Turkey which may at
any moment demand our military interference。 If we are bound to assist
by force of arms in the defence of Asia Minor； it is equally necessary
that Turkey should be bound to qualify herself for resistance to an
attack from Russia。 It should have been distinctly agreed that Turkey
should raise a territorial army of an estimated strength for the
protection of Asia Minor； and that a certain number of British officers
should hold important commands； to ensure the regular payment of the
troops and to maintain the necessary discipline。 Had such conditions
been defined； and the civil courts been placed under the supervision of
British officials； the Protectorate of Asia Minor would have become a
practical combination that would have been an effectual check to Russian
encroachments； but as the affair now stands； the alliance is fraught
with extreme danger to ourselves。 I cannot conceive the possibility of a
credulity that would induce experienced statesmen to believe in the
assurances given either by Turkey or by Russia。 The history of the past
is sufficient to prove the utter fallacy of assertions； promises； and
treaties； Turkey will persist in mal…administration； Russia； who is now
marching upon Merv in spite of former assurances； as she advanced on
Khiva under similar pretexts； will at the moment of her own selection
assuredly break through her boundaries in Asia Minor。 The position of
England will be contemptible。 We have thrown down the gauntlet to Russia
by an ostentatious alliance with Turkey； but we hesitate to insist upon
the overwhelming necessity of British official and military officers
to organise the civil administration and an army of defence； thus； when
the sudden emergency shall arise； Turkey will be totally unprepared； the
various races that comprise her Asiatic dominions will already have been
poisoned by intrigue； and the only defence that can be offered to a
Russian advance will be afforded by Turkish neglect； which has left the
country devoid of roads。
Under these inevitable circumstances； England will probably accuse
Turkey of neglecting to fulfil the conditions of the defensive alliance；
and the 〃back…door〃 will offer a convenient exit from the difficulty；
in which case； Turkey will be compelled to make terms with Russia that
will probably terminate in a Russo…Turkish alliance AGAINST England； who
will be accused of having treacherously deserted her after breaking a
solemn engagementand obtaining Cyprus。
This may be a gloomy prospect； but it is not one shade darker than the
reality of the position； unless the Porte will sanction the assistance
of a British administration that would entirely change the political
aspect。 A reform of administration in Asia Minor to be effective； should
be based upon the judicial system pursued by the English in the courts
of Cypruswhere the Turkish laws remain undisturbed； but they are
administered under the supervision of specially appointed officers。 For
the most part Turkish laws are based upon pure equity； and leave little
to be desired beyond their faithful execution。 The oppression and
extortion prevalent throughout the Turkish dominions are directly
contrary to the laws； and are the result of personal tyranny on the part
of the authorities。
In the event of a rupture with our ally that would result in a
Russo…Turkish combination； Cyprus would exhibit its importance as a
strategical position that would entirely command the coasts of Syria and
the approach to Egypt。 As I have already stated； the value of the island
is conditional upon the permanence of the Turkish alliance； should
Turkey and England remain friends and allies； Cyprus is quite
unnecessary as a British military station； but our possession will
probably ENTAIL THE ABSOLUTE NECESSITY OF TURKISH GOOD FAITH； as the
restored arsena