Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎112v] (230/312)

THE GrXiOBE, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1878.
active as ever, talking with-.her usual brural selfish-
WEDNESDAY
O C T O B 1
EVENING,
THE INTRIGUES OF RUSSIA.
The latest intelligence from the East ought to
suggest disquieting reflections to the politicians who
some time ago were fond of dilating on the virtues
of "large maps." For all the troubles of the
British mind in regard to Russia " large maps"
were held forth by them as an effectual cure.
We had but to glance at one of these,
we were told, to see how absurd were our fears.
We should then learn that between us and the Rus
sians were vast plains, inaccessible mountain ranges,
impassable rivers; in short, every conceivable
obstacle that can shut off one nation from
another. We fear a glance at a map, whe
ther large or small, will now tend to show
that these consoling reassurances are of a very
vague and shadowy nature. The plain truth is that
the boundaries of Russian and English territories
are rapidly approaching each other, and that if
there is t© be war with Afghanistan we shall find our-
selves face to face with the enemy who was described
as being such a very long way off. A telegram in a
contemporary which ought to know more than any
other English journal about Russian designs,
announces that 20,000 Russians will watch the pro
gress of the contest from the northern frontiers of
Afghanistan. And we are not left in doubt as to the
opinions and hopes of the Russian people.
The Golos charges us with playing the part
of Remard. the fox, - and with falselv ac-
cusing "the innocent rabbit" of "beginning the
feud while we are solemnly warned that if we
think of seizing Afghanistan we must be prepared
to meet Russian resistance. At the same time it is
announced that " the inhabitants of British India
impatiently await the arrival of their Russian
liberators." " The hope of imminent emancipation
from foreign yoke " is declared to be " universal in
the country." If statements like these with re
gard. to Khiva appeared in EnsrlisU newspapers
they would carry only the weight attaching to the
journals which gave them utterance; but Russian
organs of opinion are on a wholly different
footing. They do not venture to make important
announcements that would displease the Govern
ment ; and in regard to assertions of this kind they
may be looked upon as the direct expression of the
views of the most powerful section of Russian
society.
While these items of intelligence reach us with
respect to the extreme East, there are suggestive
hints as to the course Russia is pursuing nearer
home. The world has just been surprised by the
refusal of Turlsey to sign a Bosnian Convention.
The reason of the refusal rather than the refusal
itself is what has amazed Europe. It seems
almost incredible that Turkey should have taken so
direct a means of rousing the anger of Austria, and
perhaps even alienating the sympathies of her
faithful friends the Hungarians. An Englishman
who expressed a suspicion that Russia may have
been behind the scenes here also would be set down
by many of our confiding politicians as a Russo-
phobist of the purest water. Yet at Berlin, where
Russia is certainly not without friends, the suspi
cion has passed into conviction. There it is firmly
believed that Russia has encouraged the Porte
to insulc the Austrians; and her object un
questionably is to drive the latter into some
act which they would regret after cool reflection.
Russia would then have a pretext for virtually
setting aside the Berlin Treaty. The Russian diplo
mats at Berlin.already "give it as their opinion "
that "if Austria commits the irregularity of
occupying Bosnia in a manner at variance with the
Berlin Treaty Russia will be entitled to leave her
troops for an indefinite period in Bulgaria and
Eastern Roumeha." What that, means must be
plain even to the enthusiasts about " large maps" and
those witty people who think they settle the Eastern
Question by refined, jokes about "Jingoism."
Russia wishes to see the Treaty of San Stefano once
more called into existence. Eastern Roumelia and
Bulgaria are, if possible, even yet to be united, and
Russian influence is to reign supreme as far as
Adrianople. One thing, however, is necessary—■
England must be kept quiet. If she were to be as
ness about her " interests," these fine philanthropic
schemes might not be so easily realised. Hence
these remote Eastern intrigues. The fate of Con
stantinople is to be decided among the defiles of
Afghanistan. We are to be compelled to turn away
our eyes from Europe in order to secure our safety
in Asia. While we are occupied in avenging a
gross insult, and in protecting our frontier, Russia
is to have everythinsr her own way in Turkey.
Austria, she hopes, will have too much to do in
Bosnia to interfere with her; Germany will act as
her very good friend; and France and Italy will not
venture to dictate in regard to matters with which
they suppose themselves to be only indirectly con"
cerned.
Yet Russia may find that her calculations are
wholly wrong. We admit that the difficulty about
Afghanistan ser'ously annoys us ; here Russia has
played her cards well, and has done us a real injury
without b. ing immediately responsible. But she is
grossly mistaken if she supposes that she can
hamper our European policy. It is possible
enough that our rule in India is not yet popular,
and that some of the native princes would like very
well to have ah opportunity of acquiring complete
independence. But the pictures of our helplessness
drawn by Russian penny-a-liners excite only a
smile among those who happen to know anything
about the facta ; and we may be permitted to doubt
whether the Russians themselves are much misled
by their instructors. If we must go to war with
Afghanistan we shall do so in a way that will leave
no doubt as. to the result, and we shall achieve our
pui'pose without seriously straining our resources.
Were Russia to force a conflict upon us we should
still have ample strength to deal both with her and
with Afghanistan. For while England is fresh, with
her power highly organised and her people prac
tically unanimous, Russia is worn out by a struggle
that taxed all her energies, and is nearly torn to
pieces by the conflicts of her contending parties. And
if she really thinks of abolishing the Berlin Treaty,
she may be assured that what she has before her is a
war with Great Britain. At the Congress we made
the utmost possible concessions ; we shall make no
more, nor shall we permit the advantages we gained
to be taken from us by mean intrigue. This is so
well known to intelligent Russ'ans that we do not
believe the Government of the Czar will advance
much further on the path it has entered. The
Russian is fond of dramatic surprises, and likes t®
strut across the stage as the swaggerer of Europe j
but he has no love for hopeless enterprises, even
when their aim is, the "liberation" of down
trodden races. ^Notwithstanding his tall talk, he
already begins to have some notion of the real posi
tion of affairs; and when his ideas on the subject
become quite clear he will make up his mind that it
is best to leave England alone, and to accept the
Treaty of Berlin as, on the whole, a far more satis-,
factory An East India Company trading post. arrangement than he could ever have hoped
to obtain. ' • . - • ' i.. ' _
SECOND EDITION.
GLOBE OFFICE, 1
p.m.
ENGLAND, ETJSSIA, & AFGHANISTAN.
REPORTED UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN
EUSSIA AND THE AMEER.
(fbom the "jtanchestee, guardian.^
Galata {via Odessa), Tuesday.
A Russian officer at Adrianople, just returned
from Central Asia, declares the existence of a com
plete understanding between Russia and Cabul.
The Russian army, which is 12,000 strong, on the
frontier will indirectly support the Ameer.
(FEOM THE " STANDAJRD.")
" —— tl! J/U. l : —-*•
etft ttaqAV '^xau uedo nreraej jym troi;
Mqiqxa eqj, -sueunoadB i^JOAes Smuriirexe
Xq uoiqtqiqxa oq^ ui raeq'V A'q asajeattt eq^ poomAa
'sass-Ep aeq^o pux; misi^au aqq. jo q;oq 'ajojiiaiA jo jsqrann
ejqtuspTsnoo v Smujoni aqc^ SuiJn(j "Sniqsqod pan
-qno paotrmp jqj (fepaxn aeApa ptre tnopee^j eq^) ezud
puooaa eq^ qo'Bfj *J2\[ puB (OI^ put: raopoojj 0
ez ad cjsaq aq^ ^ooug *Q ; A'ae^oct aoj azud qsag
eqq. jfjig sapnsqo ' ^ 0Ai auo^ure aoi oiy jo anpBA
aq^ jo" ezud 13 f -g-0 WtqO aSaoeo ^aanaf)
-^TTBua ^natrj f pooM. ui tiiom joj (jfuEdtuoo aqq. jo uiopaeaj
pun x^pam aaAps aqq) f zpd aq^ qoanq3.fno H
M 'saesaoojd aAi^oadeaj eq^ SmTBaqsnnt
^ ajre qajq^ jo xpa f ieaqM f3 f aa^od v uoqpoa 'SMSsapj
pun 'iStaqenocl pun Sut^na puQtanip JQJ sauiqo^tu
OA\a auas' sny 'uaajg-TiaMua^jeiO W 'PJQ ^ MH anq^
THE GLOBE, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 1878.
WEDNESBJ. Y
OCTOBER 9.
TEE INTRIGUES OF RUSSIA.
The latest intelligence from the East ought to
suggest disquieting reflections to the politicians who
some time ago were fond of dilating on the virtues
of "large maps." For all the troubles of the
British mind in regard to Russia " large maps"
were held forth by them as an effectual cure.
We had but to glance at one of these,
we were told, to see how absurd were our fears.
We should then learn that between us and the Rus
sians were vast plains, inaccessible mountain ranges,
impassable rivers; in short, every conceivable
obstacle that can shut off one nation from
another. We fear a glance at a map, whe-
ither large or small, will now tend to show
that these consoling reassurances are of a very
vague and shadowy nature- The plain truth is that
the boundaries of Russian and English territories
are rapidly approaching each other, and that if
there is t© be war with Afghanistan we shall find our
selves face to face with the enemy who was described
as being such a very long way off. A telegram in a
contemporary which ought to know more than any
other English journal about Russian designs,
announces that 20,000 Russians will watch the pro
gress of the contest from the northern frontiers of
Afghanistan. And we are not left in doubt as to the
opinions and hopes of the Russian people.
The Chios charges us with playing the part
of Rejnaxd. the fox, - and with, falgelv acv:
cusing "the innocent rabbit" of "beginning the
feud while we are solemnly warned that if we
think of seizing Afghanistan we must be prepared
to meet Russian resistance. At the same time it is
announced that " the inhabitants of British India
impatiently await the arrival of their Russian
liberators." " The hope of imminent emancipation
from foreign yoke " is declared to be " universal in
the country." If statements like these with re
gard. to Khiva appeared in Ensrlisn newspapers
they would carry only the weight attaching to the
journals which gave them utterance; but Russian
organs of opinion are on a wholly different
footing. They do not venture to make important
announcements that would displease the Govern
ment ; and in regard to assertions of this kind they
may be looked upon as the direct expression of the
views of the most powerful section of Russian
society.
While these items of intelligence reach us with
respect to the extreme East, there are suggestive
hints as to the course Russia is pursuing nearer
home. The world has just been surprised by the
refusal of Turliey to sign a Bosnian Convention.
The reason of the refusal rather than the refusal
itself is what has amazed Europe. It seems
almost incredible that Turkey should have taken so
direct a means of rousing the anger of Austria, and
perhaps even alienating the sympathies of her
faithful friends the Hungarians. An Englishman
who expressed a suspicion that Russia may have
been behind the scenes here also would be set down
by many of our confiding politicians as a Russo-
phobisb of the purest water. Yet at Berlin, where
Russia is certainly not without friends, the suspi
cion has passed into conviction. There it is firmly
believed that Russia has encouraged the Porte
to insult the Austrians; and her object un-
questionably is to drive the latter into some
act which they would regret after cool reflection.
Russia would then have a pretext for virtually
setting aside the Berlin Treaty. The Russian diplo-
mats at Berlin<already "give it as their opinion "
that "if Austria commits the irregularity of
occupying Bosnia in a manner at variance with the
Berlin Treaty Russia will be entitled to leave her
troops for an indefinite period in Bulgaria and
Eastern Roumeha." What that means must be
plain even to the enthusiasts about " large maps" and
those witty people who think they settle the Eastern
Question by refined, jokes about "Jingoism."
Russia wishes to see the Treaty of San Stefano once
more called into existence. Eastern Roumelia and
Bulgaria are, if possible, even yet to be united, and
Russian influence is to reiga supreme as far as
Adrianople. One thing, however, is necessary—
England must be kept quiet. If she were to be as
active as ever, talking with,her usual brmal selfish-
ness about her " interests," these fine philanthropic
schemes might not be so easily realised. Hence
these remote Eastern intrigues. The fate of Con
stantinople is to be decided among the defiles of
Afghanistan. We are to be compelled to turn away
our eyes from Europe in order to secure our safety
in Asia. While we are occupied in avenging a
gross insult, and in protecting our frontier, Russia
is to have e very thin sr her own way in Turkey.
Austria, she hopes, will have too much to do in
Bosnia to interfere with her; Germany will act as
her very good friend; and France and Italy will not
venture to dictate in regard to matters with which
they suppose themselves to be only indirectly con
cerned.
Yet Russia may find that her calculations are
wholly wrong. We admit that the difficulty about
Afghanistan seriously annoys us ; here Russia has
played her cards well, and has done us a real injury
without b.ing immediately responsible. But she is
grossly mistaken if she supposes that she can
hamper our European policy. It is possible
enough that our rule in India is not yet popular,
and that some of the native princes would like very
well to have an opportunity of acquiring complete
independence. But the pictures of our helplessness
drawn by Russian penny-a-liners excite only a
smile among those who happen to know anything
about the facts ; and we may be permitted to doubt
whether the Russians themselves are much misled
by their instructors. If we must go to war with
Afghanistan we shall do so in a way that will leave
no doubt as. to the result, and we shall achieve our
purpose without seriously straining our resources.
Were Russia to force a conflict upon us we should
still have ample strength to deal both with her and
with Afghanistan. For while England is fresh, with
her power highly organised and her people prac
tically unanimous, Russia is worn out by a struggle
that taxed all her energies, and is nearly torn to
pieces by the conflicts of her contending parties. And
if she really thinks of abolishing the Berlin Treaty,
she may be assured that what she has before her is a
war with Great Britain. At the Congress we made
the utmost possible concessions ; we shall make no
more, nor shall we permit the advantages we gained
to be taken from us by mean intrigue. This is so
well known to intelligent Russ ans that we do not
believe the Government of the C zar will advance
much further on the path it has entered. The
Russian is fond of dramatic surprises, and likes t®
strut across the stage as the swaggerer of Europe;
but he has no love for hopeless enterprises, even
when their aim is, the "liberation" of down
trodden races. Notwithstanding his tall talk, he
already begins to have some notion of the real posi
tion of affairs ; and when his ideas on the subject
become quite clear he will make up his mind that it
is best to leave England alone, and to accept the
Treaty of Berlin as, on the whole, a far more satis
factory An East India Company trading post. arrangement than he could ever have hoped
to obtain. ;
SECOND E DITION.
GLOBE OFFICE, 1 p.m.
ENGLAND, EUSSIA, & AFGHANISTAN.
REPORTED UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN
russia and the ameer.
(FEOM THE "MANCHESTER CHTABDIAN.">
G alata {via Odessa), Tuesday.
A Russian officer at Adrianople, just returned
from Central Asia, declares the existence of a com
plete understanding between Russia and Cabul.
The Russian army, which is 12,000 strong, on the
frontier will indirectly support the Ameer.
(FBOM THE " STANDARD.")
A llahabad , Tuesday.
Reinforcements from Peshawur were at once sent
forward to Jumrood on the receipt of the news of
the appearance of a strong Afghan force in a
threatening attitude near that post. General Ross
bas now seven infantry regiments and three
batteries collected there. This force he considered
to be sufficient to clear the lower pass and to assault
the fort of AliMusjid, and he was preparing for an
advance when he received orders to wait until further
reinforcements should reach him, as it was thought
unadvisable to run even the slightest risk of a check
at Ali Musjid, the position being an extremely
strong one. There is a considerable movement of
troops towards the frontiers from Lahore. Umballa,
and, indeed, most of the stations on the way down.
There is no news as yet of our envoy, Nawab An honorific title; an official acting as a provincial deputy ruler in South Asia; or a significant Muslim landowner in nineteenth century India. Golam
Hassain, and feai s are entertained for his safety.
(PEOM THE "DAILT NEWS.")
Vienna , Tuesday Night.
According to St. Petersburg advices received
iere, a Russian corps of observation of 20,000 men
is likely to be stationed on the northern frontier of
Afghanistan.
(PEOM THE "DAILT TELEGRAPH.")
TT _ _ . C alcutta , October 8.
Under the authority of the Supreme Government
fe troops of the Cashmere Maharajah have occupied
the Baroghil and Karambar Passes, north-west of.
Cashmere.