Note 123 — Chapter VI · COLONIES—EMPIRE—FOREIGN POLICY

Of Disraeli’s Indian policy this much may here be noted. While allowing Russia to expand where she was entitled or compelled by war, or allowed by opening intrigues, he wished to baffle her as against Great Britain.

(1) By an independent Afghanistan, with a proper frontier and its Indian “gates” barred.

(2) By preventing Russia through Turkestan’s approaches to Afghan and Persia’s eastern border.

(3) By precluding her from Persia’s western border through the regions of the Euphrates Valley, (a) through making Turkey compact in Asia (Erzeroum and Bayazid); (b) through Cyprus guarding the Mediterranean approaches.