1-150-790 - The Cartoon Collector/Heritage-Images

'Benjamin Bombastes', 1877. Benjamin Disraeli, now Earl of Beaconsfield, the Conservative Prime Minister, is depicted standing next to a signpost marked Egypt and Constantinople. His boots, handing from a peg, bear the words 'British Interests'. Egypt was where the British had a key interest in the Suez Canal and Constantinople represents the main focus of the war between Russia and Turkey. Britain had asked for assurances that the Suez would not be threatened and, upon the strict understanding that the country preserved its neutrality in the war, Russia had given such assurances. However, Lord Beaconsfield had made it plain that he considered such assurances to be conditional on British interest not being attacked. From Punch, or the London Charivari, August 4, 1877.