Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎27v] (55/312)

[BY DAILY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL WIRE.J
[FROM OUR OWN COIiRESPONDENT.]
VIENNA, Tuesday N ight.
The semi-official organ Die Presse publishes
a leading article entitled " The Anglo-Afghan
Difficulty," from which I subjoin an'extract:
The independent conduct of England in the Eastern
Question, clearly manifested by the Anglo-Turkish
Treaty, aroused the full mistrust of Russia. It was
perfectly well known in St. Petersburg which was the
weak side of British policy, and General Kauffmann,
who commanded the Russian expedition on the Oxus,
received instructions to offer Russia's friendship to the
Ameer of Afghanistan Russia has taken
her revenge at Cabul for the crippling of the Treaty
of San Stefano. The Convention she has concluded with
the Ameer is her answer to England's pact with
the Sultan. ... The Cabinet of St. Petersburg
has repeatedly promised not to extend military con
quest beyqnd the conventional neutral zone formed
by Persia and Afghanistan, but the advance to Khiva
ought to have shown Englishmen that Russia's loyalty
in such matters is ^doubtful. The late experience at
Cabul is well calculated to excite England's suspicions
to the utmost.
The article concludes by advising Russia not
to yield to the impulse of the moment, to avoid
at any price a conflict with England, and not
to give her the opportunity of annihilating an
enfeebled rival and enemy.
[BY DAILY TELEGRAPH SPECIAL WIRE.}
[prom our own correspondent.]
PARIS, T uesday M idnight.
The Cabul incident is very naturally attracting
considerable attention here. Indeed, it was felt
that on the very day that the Indian troops;
landed in Malta the axis of the Eastern Ques-;
tion was set in fresh bearings, and that hence
forward the Slav and the Turkish Questions;
would yield to the Anglo-Indian Question. In
commenting on the mission of Sir Neville Cham- i
berlain, Le Temps of this evening reproduces,
with Lord Carnarvon, the criticism of Mr. Glad
stone. The escort, it says, given to Sir Neville
was too strong for a mission and too weak for
an army. Whether the refusal to re
ceive this mission has come from the Ameer
or from the mountaineers, wo might have
, expected what has happened. The mission en-
I trusted to Major Sandeman, observes the
journal, had a similar escort of 1,000 men, and
it succeeded ; but it succeeded too well in the
eyes of the Ameer of Cabul and of the inde
pendent tribes of the Afghan frontier, for both
feared to see the English get a footing amongst
them, as they have in Beloochistan. Le Temps
does not think it proved that British honour has
experienced an affront such as defies all chance of
appeasement or smoothing over. The Ameer, ii
argues, even without disavowing his officer, can
furnish acceptable explanations. His written
answer may dissipate misunderstandings, if there
be any. Perhaps he will offer to receive the
English mission on the single condition
I that it presents itself without warlike
accompaniments. Le Temps seems to think
that the British Government haa acted with
some precipitation in the measures it has taken,
If the Ameer has not said his last word it ques
tions the wisdom of cutting him off from all
retreat. Would it not be more politic, it asks,,
to accept the idea ©f the independence of the
mountaineers, and to make an arm of it against
the Ameer? Is it not an excellent occasion
to propose to him a settlement of the frontier
questions, and if, as is probable, he should re
ject it, would not a complete and definitive oc
cupation of the Khyber Passes suffice to secure!
British interests ? If war is inevitable every'
effort should be made to localise the conflict.
The gravity of the situation lies entirely in this
fact—that England, in laying the responsi
bility of the Ameers acts upon Russia, might
stretch, at the risk of producing a diplomatic
rupture, the bond which joins the Anglo-Indian
Question to the Eastern Question in general.
The Journal des Debats of this evening does
not see how the honour of Great Britain can
escape from the alternative of the Ameer
making excuses for the occupation of Afghan
istan by English troops. In any case, it
says, there is no reason to hurry, and the
English seem inclined to take advantage of
that great diplomatist, Time. Doubtless, adds
the journal, this would be all well and good
if it were only a question of the Ameer, but it
must not be forgotten that the Russians are
behind him, and if the English take their time
the Russians will not lose theirs.
ST. PETERSBURG, S ept . 24.,
With reference to the telegram published yes
terday by a London morning paper, assuming
that an understanding existed between Russia
and Afghanistan, it is declared, in the best in
formed quarters, that this supposition is purely
imaginary, and it is further stated, on the same
authority, that no grounds are known to justify
such imputations and conjectures.
71/^4 - S&Lb-
LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
(By Telegraph.)
(From our Correspondents.)
INDIA AND AFGHANISTAN.
, . CALCUTTA, S ept . 25.
The Mission has been dissolved, and Sir Neville
Chamberlain returns to Madras.
The troops have been ordered to advance towards
the frontier, and a force will be despatched to the
Koorum Valley. General Roberts commands a
brigade of all arms, and will march on the 27th for
Khelat.
The Commandant of Ali Musjid Fort threatened
Major Cavagnari, saying that save for his personal
friendship he would shoot him on the spot.
War is believed to be inevitable.
BERLIN, S ept . 25.
Afghan news has created considerable sensation
in Germany. The whole German Press discusses
the incident, looking forward to fresh complica
tions in the East.
TURKISH AFFAIRS.
1 , VIENNA, S ept . 25.
A letter from Constantinople in the Political
Correspondence asserts that it was only after great
resistance to the pressure brought to bear upon
him by Sir Henry Layard that the Sultan consented
to tho return of Midhat Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. , though he would
in nowise grant an influential position to
the exile. Midhat is said merely to have
received permission to take up his residence in
Crete as a simple private person. On the
other hand, Mahmound Nedim Pasha An Ottoman title used after the names of certain provincial governors, high-ranking officials and military commanders. is said
to have received permission by an autograph
letter of the Sultan to return straightway to Stam-
boul. This is interpreted to mean the restoration
of Russia n i nflu enc e.
INDIA AND AFGHANISTAN.
SIMLA,,S ept. 2i.*
Orders have been issued for the concentration of troops
on the Afghan frontier, with a view of undertaking very
early ulterior operations should circumstances render mili
tary action necessary.
It is understood that Sir Neville Chamberlain'* Mission
has been dissolved. Gholam Hussein Khan, the Envoy
sent by the Viceroy to Cabul with a letter from his Excel
lency to the Ameer, has been recalled.
General Sir Neville Chamberlain will resume his com
mand at Madras.
A force under General Eoberts will be despatched to the
Koorum Valley, and a column of 6,000 men will assemble
at Mooltan. A force of 8,000 men will be sent to Quettah.
Active military preparations are being made at Rawul
Pindee.
; *Delaved in transmissioa.
AFGHANISTAN.
The telegram we publish this morning from our
bpecial Correspondent in Calcutta removes all
f U Ai- the condu(!fc of the commandant
* We learnt on Monday that the
Mir Akhor, or Master of the Horse, was present at
the intervmw between Major Cavagnari and the
Afghan Commander, and if the statement is true
that the latter in presence of one of Shere Ali's
most tried servants—a member of his household-
threatened to shoot our envoy, and only refrained
on account of his personal friendship towards him
there can be little error in assuming that the
threat and opposition alike were, in accordance with
instructions received direct from the Ameer at the
hands of the Mir Akhor. War, says our Calcutta
Correspondent, is believed to be inevitable
A column is to be moved forward to the Koo
rum V^Iey, while General Roberts, with a
brigade of all arms, is to leave on the 27th for
Khelat. The selection of this officer is most iudi-
cious ; in th e prime of life, a ctive, vigorous, and