Page:Paul Samuel Reinsch - Secret Diplomacy, How Far Can It Be Eliminated? - 1922.djvu/80



But there followed another, a fourth secret treaty, growing out of the Turkish situation, an agreement between Great Britain and Turkey con- cluded on June 4th, at Constantinople. As a re- sult of erroneous information having been tele- graphed from Constantinople by Mr. Layard, the British envoy, to the effect that in spite of the armistice the Russians were moving on Constan- tinople, a large war credit was voted in the Brit- ish House, although against the opposition of the Liberals under Gladstone and Bright. Orders were also given to the Indian Government to send troops to Cyprus. A secret treaty was then con- cluded in which Great Britain received a protec- torate over Cyprus in return for the engagement on her part to protect the Asiatic domains of Turkey. Never was the blood of a nation with- out its own knowledge and consent risked in a more doubtful adventure than in this famous transaction of Lord Beaconsfield. Gladstone, on July 20th, analyzed the treaty as providing for three things: the occupation and annexation of Cyprus, the defense of Turkey in Asia against any attempt Russia may make ("to go two thou- sand miles from your own country, alone and sin- gle handed, in order to prevent Russia making war at any time upon Turkey in Asia"), and re-