Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎1v] (2/312)

ENGLAND AND AFGHANISTAN.
The ^Adveriiser says:—" The canclitiona which are
likely to be urged by the English mission are framed ,
quite as mucb, in Afghan asj in English interests; and if
Share Ali were not the cunning, fickle, half-crazy ruler
that he is, we might have little hesitation in saying that
?j he would accept our proposals. But he lias yrievaaco^
; against us—some of them sotmd, and some imaginary—
and he is spiteful tow;yrds us. He may, therefore, caus >
the Indian GoTernmenb much trouble, and compel
them to coerca him by a large array of force. The mili
tary authorities are evidently preparing for that con
tingency. We hear of the concentration of 50,000
or G0,0C0 men near the north-west frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. , and a plan
; of campaign, if campaign there is to be, is likewise fully
nnnounced. The use of force towards Afghanistan
ought to be avoided if possible, but it will be far better
to resort.to that bitter expedient now than wait till
the Afghans and the Russians are in open alliance.
Come what; may, Eussia must not be allowed to plant
herself on our doorstep, and it is gratifyino- to find that
this view is not only endorsed by the Indian Govern
ment, but by public opinion and the Press at home.
The authorities at home should have no hesitation in
adopting the line propose! to tham by the Calcutta '
: Government. It involves no ambitious annexations and
no very serious cost. It is a defensive and not a
belligerent policy, and is a coherent part of an
intelligible system pertaining to all. our frontiers, i
No half-measures, like the permission of an English
as well as a Eussian Minister at Cabul, will
now suffice. Ens da has no interest; and no
business with a representative in _that city. His
. presence there is not intended as a check upon the con
duct of the Afghans, but as a menace to England; and
| it is an insulting breach of promises made many times
i that Afghanistan was beyond the sphere of Eussia's in-
; fluence. It would deservedly bring contempt on the
English Government if, having undertaken the respond
sibilities involved in the Anglo-Turkish Convention,
having closed the side door, they permitted Eussia to
; slip in by the front, or , even to cause us trouble in that
region. The experience of the past few months will
have been lost upon the Cabinet if they do not perceive
that in dealing with Eussia energetic action is the
best, and this principle is- sti.l more true in the case of
Asiatics."
, Even the Dai'/y News has at length awakened to the fact that the
Russian manoeuvres in Afghanistan bode no good to us. Lord Salis
bury's large-scale maps do not obscure the fact now that the effect
of intrigues at Cabul may reach as far as Peshawur, to say nothing of
Gwalior, Indore, or Hyderabad. The Daily News has come to the
conclusion that "there are obvious dangers in allowing Russia to
acquire a predominant influence in Afghanistan. Acquiescence in a
Russian annexation of the Ameer's territories is out of the question;
but we could not even with safety allow Russia to acquire such control
over the ruling Sovereign as to enable her to use Afghanistan as a basis
in which to organize invasion, or a retreat in case of repulse, or a shelter
from which she might direct intrigues to undermine the loyalty of native
princes within the Indian frontier." Basis of invasion, retreat in case
of repulse, shelter for intrigue! Can it be that this is the " great and
friendl y Pow er " of whom the Daily News is speaking ?