It was a question of the possession of the Holy Shrines at Bethlehem and other places which tradition associates with the birth and death of Jesus Christ; and whether the Latin or the Greek monks had the right to the key of the great door of the Church at Bethlehem, and the right to place a silver star over the grotto where our Saviour was born.

The Sultan had failed to carry out his promises in adjusting these disputed points.

And all Europe trembled when the great Prince Menschikof, with imposing suite and threatening aspect, appeared at Constantinople, demanding immediate settlement of the dispute.

Turkey was paralyzed with fright, until England sent her great diplomatist Lord Stratford de Redcliffe--and France hers, M.de Lacour.

No simpler question was ever submitted to more distinguished consideration or was watched with more breathless interest by five sovereigns and their cabinets.