1895] Epitomised 191 



supporters, intervenes. Philip Currie is urged to activity in repeated 

 despatches. 



" 6. The ' Times,' seeing in the Armenian question a useful counter- 

 irritant to the Egyptian question, chimes in. 



" 7. The English Government invites the French and Russian Gov- 

 ernments to join them. This at Philip Currie's initiative. 



" 8. These, believing the English Government to be willing to parti- 

 tion Turkey, accept the proposal of joint action. N.B. Rosebery 

 probably is willing to partition Turkey. 



" 9. Rosebery goes out of office in England. In Russia Giers dies 

 and is succeeded by Labanov. A change of policy ensues. 



' 10. France and Russia, knowing that Lord Salisbury, now at the 

 Foreign Office, will not consent to the partition of Turkey, back out of 

 joint action with England. 



' 11. Salisbury, to avoid questions in Parliament and to gain time, 

 professes to go on alone. 



" 12. The Sultan, secretly reassured at Paris and St. Petersburg, 

 stiffens his back. The negotiations at Constantinople are dawdled out. 



" 13. Gladstone makes his Armenian speech at Chester. Subscrip- 

 tions are opened in England. 



" 14. Salisbury, to make show of being in earnest, orders a British 

 fleet to the Dardanelles. 



"15. The Armenian Committee, encouraged by the approach of the 

 English fleet, and believing Salisbury to be in earnest, and that England 

 will undertake the job of coercing the Sultan single-handed, organizes 

 a demonstration at Constantinople. This is done with Philip's privity. 



" 16. The Sultan orders the Armenian demonstration to be crushed. 



" 17. The Armenians are crushed at Constantinople with great bar- 

 barity. 



" 18. ?? 



" N.B. My impression, gathered from what Philip has told me, 

 strongly is (1) that he was not keen, at the outset of the Samsun affair, 

 to intervene, but took the matter up under Rosebery 's orders; (2) that 

 he was responsible for the partnership with France and Russia; (3) 

 that having embarked in the business he has since made it one personal 

 to himself; (4) that for the last six months, at least, he has been in 

 communication with the Revolutionary Committee, probably acting in 

 concert with them; (5) that he was privy to the demonstration of 30th 

 September, probably encouraged it, though perhaps not its being armed. 

 It is he who told me that the Armenian Committee was organized by 

 Russian Nihilists. This Committee has for its object, not union with 

 Russia, but the establishment of an independent Armenia under Eng- 

 lish protection. They would take annexation to Russia as a pis-aller. 

 But that is not their object." 



