Note 122 — Chapter XXI · THE REIGN OF JINGOISM.

Russia in July had pledged herself not to meddle with the Suez Canal, or with Egypt, or to menace the Persian Gulf. As to the Dardanelles, the position of the Straits “should,” said Prince Gortschakoff, “be settled by a common agreement upon equitable or efficiently guaranteed bases.” Constantinople, in his opinion, “could not be allowed to belong to any of the European Powers;” and on the 20th of July the Czar further enforced this pledge by telling Colonel Wellesley that he would not occupy Constantinople merely for military prestige, but only if events forced him to do so.—See Russia II. (1877), No. 2; and Turkey III. (1878), No. 2.