I9 X 3]' Grey's Change of Policy Attempted 413 



This last piece of my Constantinople news, though it unfortunately 

 proved to be less than true, indicates, I believe, ideas then current at 

 the Foreign Office connected with an undoubted attempt being made 

 at that time to smooth down things with the Berlin Government. It 

 seems to have failed through the opposition of the Russian Government 

 to the recognition by England of the full German claim of extending 

 their interest in the Bagdad railway to the Persian Gulf. 



"31st May. — Both Farid Bey and Abdul Ghaffar write from Cairo 

 in gratitude for my services to Egypt. 



" 2nd June. — A good letter from Syud Mahmud at Benares. I have 

 been drafting a letter of advice according to his request to the Indian 

 Moslems, which will also be a farewell message to my Mohammedan 

 friends everywhere. I am glad to see that Kiamil Pasha has been re- 

 fused permission to remain at Constantinople. It is a great slap in the 

 face for Grey, whose special protege he was, and for Cromer and 

 Kitchener, and all the Cairo gang. 



" 4th June. — There is news from Constantinople that a treaty has 

 been concluded between England and the Porte guaranteeing the in- 

 tegrity of the Sultan's remaining dominions for forty years. That is 

 still 1953. It sounds improbable, but there is certainly a great effort 

 being made just now at the Foreign Office to regain the friendship of 

 the Moslem world." 



All this, alas ! proved untrue news, though it doubtless represents 

 a phase in Grey's diplomacy when a better thought for a while prevailed 

 with him, as here suggested, of regaining the friendship of the Moslem 

 world, and at the same time of Germany. But his unfortunate En- 

 tentes with France and Russia always prevented an honest understand- 

 ing. Egypt especially stood in the path of a settlement, and Russia's 

 unwillingness that her partner in Persia should agree to any extension 

 of German influence in Mesopotamia. The peace of the world was 

 practically sacrificed by Grey at this time through his obstinate weakness 

 about Egypt and his bondage at Bagdad to the Czar. 



A more terrible tragedy than poor Ryan's death and one which, 

 even more absolutely than that determined me on my retirement from 

 all active work in the great world, was the sudden and entirely un- 

 looked-for death of my dear cousin, George Wyndham, so long the 

 link which bound me closest to it. It was a blow which struck me to 

 the inmost fibres of my heart, bewildering in its unexpectedness, and 

 touching me on every side of my existence. 



His last letter, written a few weeks before, had given no hint of 

 any failure of health or of anything but his usual delight in life and his 

 especial joy in his son Percy's marriage. It had been written in ac- 

 knowledgment of a trifling wedding present I had sent, chosen ex- 



