The revolts of the Balkan peoples in 1875 and 1876 were hailed with joy among the Russians, and the government at St. Petersburg lost no time in rushing to the aid of the Balkan states and declaring war on Turkey.  After a short but stubbornly contested conflict, Russia and the little countries were victors.  A treaty of peace was signed at San Stephano, by which Roumania, Serbia, and Bulgaria were to be recognized by Turkey as independent states.  The boundaries of Bulgaria were to reach to the Aegean Sea, including most of Macedonia, thus cutting off Turkey from her county of Albania, except by water.  Bear this in mind, for it will help you to understand Russia’s later feeling when Bulgaria in 1915 joined the ranks of her enemies.

[Map:  Southeastern and Central Europe, 1706]

[Map:  Losses of Turkey during the Nineteenth Century]

[Illustration:  The Congress of Berlin.  Prince Gortchakoff (seated).  Disraeli (with cane).  Count Andrassy.  Bismarck.]

The matter was all settled, and Turkey had accepted these terms, when once more the diplomats of Europe began to meddle.  It will be remembered that Russia three years before had prevented a second war against France planned by Bismarck.  It was very easy for him to persuade Austria and England that if Russia were allowed to cripple Turkey and set up three new kingdoms which would be under her control, she would speedily become the strongest nation in Europe.  The “balance of power” would be disturbed.  England and Austria sided with Germany, and a meeting of statesmen and diplomats was called at Berlin in 1878 to decide once more what should be the map of Europe.  Representatives were present from all the leading European countries.  Even Turkey had two men at the meeting, but the three men who really controlled were Bismarck, Count Andrassy of Austria, and Lord Beaconsfield (Benjamin Disraeli) of England.  Russia was robbed of a great part of the fruits of her victory.  Bulgaria was left partially under the control of Turkey, in that she had to pay Turkey a large sum of money each year for the privilege of being left alone.  Her territory was made much smaller than had been agreed to by the treaty of San Stephano.  In fact less than one-third of the Bulgarians were living within the boundaries finally agreed upon by the congress.  A great part of the Serbians were still left under Turkish rule, as were the Greeks of Thessaly and Epirus.  The two counties of Bosnia and Herzegovina were still to belong to Turkey, but as the Turks did not seem to be strong enough to keep order there, Austria was to take control of them and run their government, although their taxes were still to be paid to Turkey.  Austria solemnly agreed never to take them from Turkey.  Russia, naturally, was very unhappy over this arrangement, and so were the inhabitants of the Balkan kingdoms, for they had hoped that now they were at last to be freed from the oppression of their ancient enemies, the Turks.  Thus the Congress of Berlin, like that of Vienna in 1815 laid the foundation for future wars and revolutions.