88 RECOLLECTIONS OF FORTY YEARS. 



there would be every danger of a break in that Euro- 

 pean concert and agreement which are of such capital 

 importance as regards our Oriental policy. Yet no 

 one can look at a map of the world and deny that a 

 canal through the Isthmus of Suez would, if it were 

 practicable, be of great service to humanity. This 

 project has been approved and found excellent by all 

 the governments of Europe, especially by France, our 

 great ally. What could be more unfortunate, there- 

 fore, than to find quarrels arising on this subject 

 between the ambassadors of our two countries at 

 Constantinople ? Bearing in mind our Indian posses- 

 sions, do not let us give room in Europe for the belief 

 that, for the maintenance of our rule in India, it is 

 necessary that we should oppose measures which are 

 advantageous to the general interests of Europe. Do 

 not let us allow so deplorable an inconsistency to take 

 root, for this would weaken our power in Hindostan 

 more than ten such mutinies as that which has just 

 occurred.' 



" Lord Palmerston replied : 



" ' The chief and only motive that we have urged 

 upon the Turkish Government against accepting the 

 proposed plan is not the injury caused to England, 

 but the injury caused to Turkey, the danger of impair- 

 ing the integrity of the Ottoman empire. 



"'The whole question, therefore, is now confined 

 to a right understanding as to what the interests of 

 the Ottoman Empire really are. It is clear that this 



