The outcry was very natural; but none the less it can scarcely be justified in view of the magnitude of the British interests then at stake.

Granted that the views of the Czar were pacific, those of his generals at the seat of war were very much open to question[159].

The long coveted prize of Constantinople, or the Dardanelles, was likely to tempt them to disregard official orders from St.Petersburg, unless they knew that any imprudent step would bring on a European war.

In any case, the vote of L6,000,000 was a precautionary measure; and it probably had the effect of giving pause to the enthusiasts at the Russian headquarters.
[Footnote 159: See the compromising revelations made by an anonymous Russian writer in the _Revue de Paris_ for July 15, 1897.

The authoress, "O.K.," in her book, _The Friends and Foes of Russia_ (pp.