be Turkey.

At the beginning of the war, and indeed till after the revolution in
Russia, it was announced and stated as an axiom that on the conclusion
of peace, Russia should be the door-keeper of what after all is her own
lodge-gate. Subsequently, in the unhappy splits and disintegration of
her Government, it was announced that she favoured peace without
annexation--in other words, that she neither claimed nor desired the
guardianship of Constantinople. But I think we should be utterly wrong
if we regarded that as an expression of the will of the Russian people:
it is far more probable that it was the expression of the will of
Germany, directly inspired by German influence with a view to concluding
a separate peace with Russia. As we have seen, it had its due effect in
Turkey, and Talaat Bey gave vent to pious ejaculations of thanksgiving,
that now all cause of quarrel with Russia was removed, and Turkey and
she could be friends. It is possible that when out of the confused
cries there again rises from Russia the clear call of the people's
voice, we shall find her wishing to set in order her own house before
she projects herself on new missions, but, as far as the manifesto of
'peace without territorial annexation' goes, we shall be wise to regard
it for the present with the profoundest suspicion. It sounds far more
like the tones of the Central European wolf than those of Little Red
Riding Hood's proper grandmother.

But be Russia's decision what it may, the Turk will hold sway no longer
in Thrace or Constantinople, or on the shores of the Straits of the Sea
of Marmora. There is, of course, no question of deporting the whole of
the Turkish population that lives in those regions, nor would it be
desirable, even if it were possible, to realise Gladstone's robust
vision of seeing every Turk, 'bag and baggage,' clear out from the
provinces they have desolated and profaned. But if not under Russia,
then under the joint control of certain of the Allied Powers there will
be a complete reconstruction of the administration of those districts.
The headquarters of the protectorate will doubtless be at
Constantinople, which will be reorganised somewhat on the lines of the
Treaty Port of Shanghai, and will be open to the ships of all nations.
The security of the town must be assured by a military garrison either
of mixed troops of the controlling nations, or possibly by a rotation of
troops drawn from the armies of each in turn