Russian possession of Hagia Sophia would give the tsar immense symbolic legitimacy and influence over the Orthodox Church. Britain, however, would be reluctant to hand a strategic gateway to a powerful and expansionist Russia. An Anglo-Greek occupation, an international city, or a divided administration of the two shores could deny exclusive control. Giving Greece a leading role would reward the troops that actually captured the straits and weaken Russia's religious justification for taking them by force. The arrangement would also bind Greece more closely to Britain while leaving a durable point of tension between the two Orthodox powers.
Chapter · 44:24-48:54
Who controls Constantinople after an Allied victory
Russia's demand for Constantinople collides with British distrust, Greek claims, and the practical question of who occupies the straits first.