RUSSIA’S BREACH OF FAITH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1541, 28 May 1885, Page 2

RUSSIA’S BREACH OF FAITH.

The English people do not contemplate war with a light heart, says the Times, but they will not shrink from the trial with a craven spirit, if the alternative be a disgraceful and ruinous submission. The question of delimiting the RussoAfghaa frontier has given place to one more urgent and, at the same time, less open to confusion. Excuses, indeed, have been already devised for General Komaroff, with the assistance of some hints from M. Lesaar, which the captor of Penjdeh has not taken the trouble to put forward of his own account. But thegplain fact of “an unprovoked agression ” on the forces of our ally, the Ameer, with whom the Viceroy of India has just entered into new and closer engagements, cannot be explained away. If [ we were content to pass over General Komaroff’s attack on and defeat of the Afghans as an “ unhappy incident,” which, however, need not ruffle the placid and deliberate current of diplomatic intercourse, we should still have to reckon with the Afghans. What value can they set upon our alliance if amongst its first fruits are seen the victory of Russia and the destruct'on of a large body of Afghan troops in the field, at the very time when Lord Dufferiti and the Ameer are deliberating at Rawul Pindi, and Lord Granville is negotiating with M. de v>iers ? What is likely to be the effect among our Indian fallowsubjects of tho news of this fresh achievement of ivUHsia, indisputably proved by

the slaughter of hundreds of Afghans and the possession of the most important halting-plaeo on the way to Herat ? We cannot, if wo would, oneountor the risks of a humiliating surrender to the sword of General Komaroll, drawn in defiance

of t ho usages of war and the engagements of hit superiors. It rests with Russia to purgo herself of tho offence by acts of adequate and conspicuous reparation. Tho immediate recall ol General Komarofifaud

the retirement of the Russian troops front all tho positions lately occupied by them in anticipation of tho judgment of tho Delimitation Commissioners, would, perhaps, avail (o lopair the mischief, so tar as it is reparable, that has been done bv the rashness or the perfidy of her officers. At ali events, we are bound by every obligation of honor and every dictate of expediency to insist that justice shall be done to the Afghans, not in their interest only, but in those of tho people of India and of the British Empire. The duly imposed upon us is one not to be undertaken with levity, but it is one also which England is capable of fulfilling, and from whioii she wid not flinch until I it be fulfilled. (