ABSTRACT
Though British market-places were not set ringing with the “Eastern Question” till August and September 1876, the Chancelleries of Europe had been occupied with it for a considerable time before that. A dangerous new threat to the “integrity of the Ottoman Empire” had arisen during the summer of 1875 in the shape of a serious Christian insurrection. All the “progress” on the Eastern Question was not accomplished without violent opposition from a strong section of “the Ministerial Press” which was often charged with acting as the agent of speculators in Turkish Bonds. In fact, thanks to Turkish obstinacy and to Russian caution, the Tsar was able to declare war on Turkey in the virtual assurance that even his bitterest opponents in the British Cabinet would not venture to propose anything but a watchful neutrality. In many ways the successful construction of National Liberal Federation on May 31st is the most important event in the domestic politics of 1877.
