Chapter II: Part II: The Eastern Question

I.

FOREIGN POLICY OF ENGLAND DURING THE SIXTEENTH, SEVENTEENTH, AND
EIGHTEENTH CENTURIES 73

The Spanish Empire, its power, and its decline—Commercial
rivalry of England and Holland—The ascendency of France;
threatened by the Grand Alliance—The Spanish succession and
the Bourbon league—England’s connection with the war of the
Austrian succession—The Seven Years’ War—Revival of the
Anglo-Bourbon struggle in the American and Napoleonic wars.

II.

FOREIGN POLICY OF RUSSIA DURING THE REIGNS OF PETER, CATHERINE,
AND ALEXANDER 95

Peter the Great, and establishment of Russian power on the
Baltic—Consequent collision with the Northern States and the
Maritime Powers—Catherine II. and Poland—First
partition—Russia reaches the Black Sea—Russo-Austrian alliance
against Turkey opposed by Pitt—Second and third partitions of
Poland—Rise of Prussia—Alexander I. and the conquest of
Turkey—Treaty of Tilsit—Peace of Bucharest—Congress of
Vienna—French influence in the East destroyed.

III.

THE NEW EUROPEAN SYSTEM 114

The concert of the Great Powers; its aims—It does not protect
small states from its own members, _e.g._, Polish
Revolution—How far can it solve the Turkish question?

IV.

GREEK INDEPENDENCE 120

The Holy Alliance—The Greek insurrection—Interference of the
Three Powers—Battle of Navarino—Treaty of Adrianople—The
policy of Nicholas I.; Treaty of Unkiar Ikelessi—Turkey only
saved by English and French aid—Palmerston succeeds to
Canning’s policy.

V.

THE CRIMEAN WAR 131

Nicholas I. alienates France from England by the Egyptian
question—Mehemet Ali and Palmerston’s convention against
him—Nicholas I. in England—The Protectorate of the Holy Land;
breach between Russia and France—Proposed partition of
Turkey—War of Russia and Turkey—The Vienna Note—Intervention
of France and England to save Turkey—Treaty of Paris; Russia
foiled—Correspondence between Palmerston and Aberdeen as to
the declaration of war—National feeling of England secures the
former’s triumph—French motives in joining in the war.

VI.

THE BLACK SEA CONFERENCE 164

French influence destroyed by the Franco-Prussian War—Russia
annuls the Black Sea clauses of the Treaty of Paris—Condition
of Europe prevents their enforcement by the Powers—London
Conference; Russia secures the Black Sea; England’s
mistake—Alsace and Lorraine destroy the balance of power.

VII.

THE RUSSO-TURKISH WAR OF 1878 172

Bulgarian atrocities—The Andrassy Note; England destroys its
effect—The Berlin Memorandum; England opposes it—Russia
prepares for a Turkish war—Conference of Constantinople—New
Turkish Constitution—Russo-Turkish War—Treaty of San
Stefano—Intervention of the Powers—The Berlin Congress—Final
treaty of peace.

VIII.

REMARKS ON TREATY OF BERLIN 195

The position of affairs—The Salisbury-Schouvaloff Memorandum
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.

IX.

CENTRAL ASIA 227

Rise of British power in India—Rivalry of France—Aims of
Napoleon—Russian influence in Central Asia—Its great extension
after the Crimean War—And after the Berlin Congress—Possible
points of attack on India—Constantinople the real aim of
Russia’s Asiatic policy—Recent Russian annexations and
railways in Central Asia—Reaction of Asiatic movements on the
Balkan question—Dangerous condition of Austria—Possible future
Russian advances in Asia—England’s true policy the
construction of a speedy route to India by railway from the
Mediterranean to the Persian Gulf—Alliance of England, France,
Turkey, Austria, and Italy would effectively thwart Russian
schemes.

LIST OF MAPS.

1. JAPAN AND THE NORTH PACIFIC _Frontispiece_

2. THE PACIFIC AND ITS SEA ROUTES 46

3. THE EXPANSION OF RUSSIA IN EUROPE 97

4. EASTERN EUROPE AND WESTERN ASIA 115

5. THE EXPANSION OF RUSSIA IN ASIA 233