all the nations, Your Royal Highness. It would have been a sin to
kindle this universal conflagration had it not been taken for granted
that its refining flames would prepare the ground for the happiness and
peace of the world. For centuries Great Britain has misused her power
to increase her own wealth at the cost of others. Unscrupulously she
grabbed everything she could lay hands on, and, injuring at every step
important and vital interests of other nations, she challenged that
resistance which has now shattered her position as a power in the world.
The happiness of the peoples can only be restored by a peace assured
for years, and only a just division of the dominion of the earth can
guarantee the peace of the world. Therefore England must necessarily
surrender an essential part of her possessions over sea. Russia wants
the way free to the Indian Ocean, for only if she has a sufficient
number of harbours open all the year round will the enormous riches of
her soil cease to be a lifeless possession. And France--"

"Let us keep to Russia first, Your Excellency. Has the Russian
Government already formulated its demands?"

"These demands are the essential outcome of the military situation; they
culminate in the cession of British India to Russia. Whatever else our
Eastern neighbour may strive to gain, is intended to ensure the peace
of Europe more than her own aggrandisement. The standing danger which
threatens the peace of Europe from the stormy corner of the old world,
the Balkan Peninsula, must be finally removed. A fundamental agreement
has been arrived at between the Powers concerned that the Russian and
Austrian spheres of influence in the Balkans are to be defined in such a
manner that a definite arrangement of affairs in the Balkan States will
be the result. There is talk of an independent Kingdom of Macedonia,
under the rule of an Austrian archduke. The equivalent to be given to
the Russian Empire as a set-off to this increase of the power of Austria
will have to be finally settled at the conference at the Hague. But in
any case the dangers which threaten the peace of Europe from Bulgaria,
Servia, and Montenegro will be effectually obviated for the future."

"But are you not afraid that the Sultan will resist such an agreement,
by which Turkey is essentially the sufferer?"

"The Sultan will have to yield to the force of circumstances. We must
not forget, Your Royal Highness, that Turkey has hitherto retained