NAPOLEON I. ON THE EASTERN QUESTION.
To Lord Whitworth, when remonstrating with him against the rupture of the peace of Amiens, he said: “The Turkish Empire threatens to fall. For my part I shall contribute to uphold it as long as possible. But if it falls to pieces I intend that France shall have her share. But be assured I shall not hasten events. . . . I wanted to establish a barrier against those barbarians [the Russians] by re-establishing the kingdom of Poland, and putting Poniatowski at the head of it as king, but your imbeciles of ministers would not consent. A hundred years hence I shall be applauded; and Europe, especially England, will lament that I did not succeed. When they see the finest countries in Europe overcome, and a prey to those northern barbarians, they will say, ‘Napoleon was right.’” At St. Helena, Napoleon said, “I could have shared the Turkish Empire with Russia; we have discussed the question more than once. Constantinople always saved it. This capital was the great embarrassment, the true stumbling-block. Russia wanted it, and I would not grant it. It is too precious a key; it alone is worth an empire; whoever possesses it can govern the world.” And again at St. Helena he said, “All the Emperor Alexander’s thoughts are directed to the conquest of Turkey. We have had many discussions about it. At first his proposals pleased me, because I thought it would enlighten the world to drive these brutes, the Turks, out of Europe. But when I reflected upon its consequences, and saw what a tremendous weight of power it would give to Russia on account of the number of Greeks in the Turkish dominion, who would naturally join the Russians, I refused to consent to it, especially as Alexander wanted Constantinople, which I would not consent to, as it would destroy the equilibrium of power in Europe.”—Table Talk and Opinions of Napoleon I., pp. 42, 74, 80.