Prince Bismarck, speaking of the Eastern Question in the Reichstag, said the preliminaries of peace in no way affected the interests of Germany, and that there was no cause to exchange the part of a spectator for that of an actor. The question of the Dardanelles alone was of great importance, for "the water ways, the straits, as well as the Danube from the Black Sea northwards, must remain open to German commerce." Germany, declared the Chancellor, would not adopt the attitude of an arbitrator, but that of an "honest broker," who had every intention of doing business (_i.e._, in effecting a lasting peace). The German Empire would never sacrifice the friendship with Russia, which had been proved through past generations, in order to obtain the vain credit of playing the judge in Europe! The attitude to be adopted by Prince Charles was thus sketched out by his father: "The offered portion of the unproductive Dobrutscha is, indeed, no compensation for the cession of Bessarabia, but will, nevertheless, be acceptable if Küstendje forms part of the bargain. Indeed, the acquisition of this Black Sea port may perhaps be of the greatest importance to the future of the flourishing commerce of Roumania. The _conditio sine quâ non_ for the incorporation of the district on the right bank must be the dismantling of the Danubian fortresses, for an autonomous Bulgaria has no need for fortified protection on its northern frontier, whilst they might, even under changed circumstances, prove a danger to Roumania, as they would become so many sally-ports in time of war." The virgin fortress of Widin, which had been invested by three Roumanian Divisions, was handed over by Isset Pacha on February 24, when the Turkish garrison marched out with all the honours of war. An enormous quantity of munitions of war was found in the magazines, but the supplies of food appeared to be almost exhausted. A day later the rock fortress of Belgradjik was also handed over to the Roumanians with the same ceremonies. The following laconic telegram from the Grand Duke Nicholas was handed to Prince Charles on March 3, 1878: "It is with great pleasure that I inform you that the peace has just been signed." CHAPTER XI THE BERLIN CONGRESS AND AFTER