cyprus, as i saw it in 1879-第76部分

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If　Cyprus　belonged　to　England　or　any　other　Power；　it　would　be　a　valuable
acquisition。　We　have　seen　that　under　the　Turkish　administration　it　was　a
small　mine　of　wealth；　and　remains　in　the　same　position　to　its　recent
masters。

We　pay　96；000　pounds　sterling　per　annum　to　the　Turks；　out　of　an　assumed
revenue　of　170；000　pounds。　Therefore；　without　any　trouble　or　risk；　the
Turk　is　receiving　3。25　per　cent。　interest　upon　three　millions。　This
establishes　an　unfortunate　precedent　in　the　valuation　of　the　island
should　England　eventually　become　a　purchaser。

If　Cyprus　can；　without　undue　taxation；　afford　a　revenue　of　170；000
pounds；　it　is　palpable　that　a　large　margin　would　be　available　for　those
absolutely　necessary　public　worksirrigation；　the　control　of　the　Pedias
river；　road…making；　harbour…works；　bridges；　extension　of　forests　and
guardians；　and　a　host　of　minor　improvements；　such　as　district　schools
for　the　teaching　of　English；　&c。　&c。　In　fact；　if　we　held　Cyprus　without
purchase　as　a　conquered　country；　such　as　Ceylon；　Mauritius；　or　other　of
our　colonies；　it　would　occupy　the　extraordinary　position　of　a　colony
that　could　advance　and　pay　its　way　entirely　by　its　own　surplus　revenue；
without　a　public　loan！　This　is　a　fact　of　great　importancethat；　in
spite　of　the　usual　Turkish　mal…administration；　the　island　has　no　debt；
but　that　England　has　acknowledged　the　success　of　the　Turkish　rule　by
paying　96；000　pounds　per　annum　as　the　accepted　surplus　revenue　of　this
misgoverned　island！which　holds　upon　these　data　a　better　financial
condition　than　any　of　our　own　colonies。

If　the　total　gross　revenue　is　170；000　pounds　a　year；　and　we　can　afford
to　pay　96；000　pounds　to　the　Porte；　and　at　the　same　time　allow　the　home
government　to　boast　in　the　House　of　Commons　of　〃a　surplus；〃　Cyprus　is
one　of　the　most　lucrative　positions；　and　the　Turks　can　fairly　claim　a
success　instead　of　admitting　the　blame　of　mal…administration。

If　the　Turks　by　mismanagement　can　obtain　a　nett　revenue　of　96；000　pounds
a　year；　how　much　should　England　obtain　by　good　management？

The　fact　is　that；　as　usual；　the　English　government　has　been　hoodwinked
in　their　hasty　bargain。　The　island　can　pay　its　way；　and；　if　free　from
Turkey；　would　become　most　prosperous；　but　we　have　inherited　an　estate　so
heavily　mortgaged　by　our　foolish　Convention；　that　the　revenue　is　all
absorbed　in　interest；　which　leaves　nothing　for　the　necessities　of
development。　The　commissioners　of　districts　are　over…worked　and
ill…paid；　their　allowance　of　interpreters　is　quite　insufficient　to
secure　the　necessary　check；　and　their　position　is　incompatible　with　the
importance　of　their　official　status。　There　is　no　money　for　any
improvements；　and　the　boasted　surplus　will　just　suffice　for　the　payment
of　salaries　and　the　absolutely　necessary　items　of　carrying　on　a
government　more　in　accordance　with　the　position　of　Greece　or　Denmark
than　with　the　historical　reputation　of　Great　Britain。

This　financial　embarrassment　has　disappointed　the　expectations　of　the
inhabitants；　who　naturally　had　anticipated　brilliant　advantages　from　the
reform　between　Turkish　and　English　administrations。　My　own　opinion　may
be　valueless；　but　it　is　shared　by　many；　Cyprus　should　belong　absolutely
to　England；　or　we　should　have　nothing　to　do　with　it。　I　repeat　the　dictum
expressed　in　the　introduction；　if　England　is　the　ally　of　Turkey　and　she
can　depend　upon　the　integrity　of　that　defensive　alliance　against　Russia；
there　is　no　need　for　any　station　that　incurs　the　obligations　of　Cyprus；
all　the　Turkish　ports　would　be　open　to　our　ships。　The　occupation　of
Cyprus　would　therefore　suggest　that　a　far…seeing　government　had　doubted
the　integrity　of　Turkey；　and　had　therefore　determined　to　secure　a
pied…a…terre　in　a　strategical　position　that　would　command　the　east　of
the　Mediterranean。　Upon　this　point　opinions　will　again　differ；　and　I
quote　the　words　of　one　of　the　most　experienced　statesmen　and　an
ex…minister　of　the　Upper　House；　who　writes：

〃The　objections　to　Cyprus　as　a　military　and　naval　station　are　shortly
these。　It　will　oblige　us　to　establish　a　garrison；　and　therefore　to
increase　and　divide　our　forces　in　the　Mediterranean。　There　must　be
barracks；　hospitals；　store…houses；　&c。　After　all　this　expenditure　Cyprus
will　weaken　rather　than　strengthen　our　power。

〃Famagousta　may　be　made　a　good　harbour；　but　how　can　it　be　defended？　The
ships　will　not　be；　as　in　Malta；　defended　by　batteries　projecting　far
beyond　the　anchorage；　Famagousta　will　require　ships　of　war　to　defend　it；
or　batteries　constructed　on　the　breakwatera　most　costly　undertaking。
As　a　coaling…station　it　is　not　wanted；　because　colliers　accompanying　the
fleet　are　much　more　convenient。　If；　in　short；　we　are　supreme　at　sea；
Cyprus　is　not　wanted；　if　we　are　not　supreme；　Cyprus　will　be　an
incumbrance。〃

I　acknowledge　the　force　of　a　portion　of　the　argument；　and　no　one　can
more　highly　respect　the　distinguished　authority　I　have　quoted；　who；　as
an　ex…First　Lord　of　the　Admiralty　of　practical　experience；　must　carry
the　great　weight　of　his　ability　and　position；　but　I　would　suggest　that
Famagousta　is　underrated。　I　have　already　described　that　powerful
fortress；　and　in　its　present　condition；　if　mounted　with　forty…ton　guns
upon　the　sea…face；　I　doubt　the　possibility　of　an　attack　from　seaward。
The　natural　reefs　which　form　the　sea…wall　afford　the　greatest　facilities
for　batteries　a…fleur…d'eau；　as　their　solid　foundations　require　the
simple　levelling　of　cement；　and　a　facing　of　steel　plates　would　complete
an　impregnable　line　of　casemates　that　would　render　the　approach　by　sea
impossible。

The　advantages　of　attendant　colliers　is　great　as　a　continuous
coal…supply　to　a　fleet；　especially　during　the　blockade　of　an　enemy's
port；　but　for　a　cruising　fleet；　or　for　independent　vessels；　the　speed　of
the　colliers　would　be　insufficient；　and　a　line　of　coaling…stations；　at
intervals　of　five　days'　steaming　is　in　my　opinion　highly　important；　in
addition　to　the　necessity　of　docks　where　ironclad　vessels　could　obtain
the　necessary　repairs　after　a　naval　engagement。　It　is　a　serious　result
of　modern　improvements　that　the　cumbrous　and　complicated　ironclads
cannot　be　repaired　in　a　few　days　after　an　action　with　the　enemy　by　their
own　carpenters　and　crews；　like　the　wooden　vessels　of　old；　but　that　docks
must　be　within　reach；　and　all　the　appliances　of　the　engineers'　yards　and
an　arsenal。　Without　this　advantage；　Famagousta　would　be　a　useless
acquisition；　and　Cyprus　would　be　worthless　as　a　strategical　position。

In　my　opinion　the　entire　question　hangs　upon　the　integrity　of　Turkey　as
an　ally。　England　has　done　but　little　for　her；　and　we　may　expect　too
much。　The　Turks　are　thoroughly　aware　that　an　Anglo…Turkish　defensive
alliance；　and　the　〃Protectorate　of　Asia　Minor　by　Great　Britain；〃　are
political　arrangements　based　upon　self…interest；　for　which　they　owe　us
no　personal　gratitude；　in　the　hour　of　their　distress　we　declined
material　assistance；　but　seized　the　opportunity　for　occupying　one　of
their　important　positionsCyprus；　their　only　satisfaction　remained　in
the　knowledge　that　they　had　〃done　us〃　in　the　bargain。　We　have　quickly
discovered　the　painful　fact；　and　one　party　to　the　alliance　already　feels
aggrieved；　and　seeks　for　an　alteration　in　the　terms　of　the　Convention。

I　cannot　conceive　any　more　dangerous　risk　to　friendships　than　an
interference　in　the　private　affairs　of　individuals；　or　in　the　public
administration　of　governments。　We　have　assumed　the　enormous
responsibility　of　the　Protectorate　of　Asia　Minor　under　conditions　which
we　must　know　will　never　be　fulfilled；　Turkey　promises　to　reform　the
abuses　of　her　internal　administration；　&c。　&c。！　Anybody　who　knows　Turkey
must　be　aware　that　such　a　reform　is　impossible：　the　honest
administrative　material　does　not　exist　in　the　Ottoman　Empire；　and　the
promises　of　the　Porte　have　been　tolerably　exemplified　since　the　Crimean
war。　Under　these　circumstances　the　Anglo…Turkish　alliance　is　in　a
questionable　position。　We　have　assumed　the　Protectorate　of　Asia　Minor
conditionally；　we　occupy　Cyprus　conditionally；　and　should　Turkey　fail　to
perform　her　promises　in　the　government　of　her　Asiatic　provinces；　we　have
a　back…door　for　an　escape　from　our　onerous　engagement。　Unfortunately
English　diplomacy　is　celebrated　for　back…doors。　In　the　Berlin　Treaty　we
entered　Cyprus　through　a　back…door；　and　we　may　possibly　retire　by　the
same　exit；　but　there　is　little　doubt　that　the　Turk　does　not　believe　in
our　professed　determination　to　defend　him　by　force　of　arms　in　the　event
of　a　future　conflict　between　Russia　and　the　Sultan　in　Asia　Minor。
Notwithstanding　our　professed　sincerity；　the　Turk　has　become　an
unbeliever　in　the　faith　of　treaties　and　political　engagements；　he
believes　most　thoroughly　that　should　〃British　interests〃　require　the
sacrifice　of　honour；　England　will　somehow　or　other　manage　to　slip
through　the　Ottoman　fingers；　and　escape　from　her　alliance　when　called
upon　to　meet　Russia　in　the　field。　Of　course　the　ignorant　Turk　is　wrong；
and　his　suspicions　are　unfounded。

With　a　mutual　want　of　confidence　in　the　integrity　of　an　alliance；　it
would　hardly　be　surprising　should　the　Sultan　attach　more　importance　to
the　practical　force　of　Russia　than　to　the　moral　rectitude　and　high
political　principles　of　England。　The　power　of　Russia　has　been　felt；　and
the　position　of　European　Turkey　is　that　of　a　dislocated　and　dismembered
Empire；　which　upon　the　next　explosion　will　reduce　the　Sultan　to　the
small　extremity　on　the　Bosphorus　between　Constantinople　and　the　lines　of
Tchataldja。　Turkey　will　cease　to　be　a　European　Power；　and　upon　the
outbreak　of　the　next　Russian　war　she　will　be　discovered　as　represented
by　Asia　Minor；　in　which　the　claws　of　the　Eagle　are　already　fixed　in　the
vital　pointsBatoum；　Kars；　and　Ardahan。　A　Russian　advance　from　those
positions　will；　according　to　the　terms　of　the　alliance；　compel　Great
Britain　to　exhibit　herself　as　the　champion　of　Turkish　rights　in　armed
defence　of　Asia　Minor。

When　we　reflect　upon　the　prodigious　responsibility　of　such　an　alliance
with　a　crippled　Power　that　has　been　completely　subdued；　the　victorious
army　of　the　Czar　retired　from　the　gates　of　the　capital；　the　nation
bankrupt　beyond　all　hopes　of　liquidati