THE AFGHAN BOUNDARY QUESTION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1207, 17 April 1885, Page 3

THE AFGHAN BOUNDARY QUESTION.

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The Daily Telegraph’s Berlin correspondent writing on 17th .February says: “I have good authority for stating that the utmost latitude is given by St Petersburg Government to the governors of the Central Asian provinces, who are specially selected not only for their military knowledge, hut for their skill in diplomalio intrigue. Each advance is left to their own discretion, the accomplished fact being invariably endorsed at headquarters some co siderable period after iuook place, as was shown in the case of Merv and Sarakhs, the occupation of which was apparently unknown to M. de Giers at the actual moment of its occm rence. I also learn, as a very significant fact, that the contract for the extension of the Transcaspian railway to Sarakhs has la'ely been grant d. Indeed, everything points to the increasing activity of the Muscovite officials in the neighborhood of Herat. Millions of roubles are now being spent on the construction of railways and telegraphic communication between the Caspian and the. Afghan frontier, an outlay which in any country would be regarded as reckless waste except for absolutely military purposes. No dividend can possible recur from tbe in vestment; and ills hardly necessary to point out that Russia, in her present bankrupt state, wo.dd not throw away her mil ions without a decided military policy, in hopes of recouping herself by the future acquisition of valuable territory. This is the view entertained in the highest financial circles at St. Petersburg, where such lavish expenditure receives hut lukewarm support.”

The Vienna correspondent of the same journal writ's :— *• I have just received the following brief hut important l'ommunication from St. Petersburg : ‘ It looks as it we were going to have a very bad business on hand in Central Asia. The Russians declare tint wiih regard to the Afghan frontier delimitation they m> mere bluster. The Rus-iah liovernment resolved from the beginning to carry .their point—if possible by pacific means, otherwise by force of arms an l they have been m iking military prepar lions in consequence. The worst of it is that we are not in a position at present to enter upon an armed eon., flict with Russia in Central Asia, and this Ituasia knows full well. We ought to have 70,000 European troops available for war on the Afghan frontier; but we could not at the present moment count upon anything like that number. Unfortunately, too, the news from Egypt has had such an effect upon the natives that it is difficult to say how far they could be trusted. In any case, the Russian forces have been permitted to advance nothin such easy reach of their destination that in case of hostilities British troops could not possibly be despatched in time to prevent them from seizing the positions they intend to occupy. The evacua'ion of Candahar thus proves to be—as many supposed it to be - a blunder. So long as negotiations for the boundary delimitation shad be pending, tbs Russian authorities will repudiate through official and other channels all aggressive designs. But a formal rupture, for which Russia will choose her own time, will most certainly be followed by the order to advance. The fact that the Russians are already in cl se proximity to several of those points whicli they have solemnly pledge I themselves not to approach suffices to destroy the last veatage of confi lence that, perhaps, some peope might have been induced to place in assurances from St. Petersburg..’ The Berlin correspondent of the Standard writes ou February 20 “ I have received a letter from a personage now in Persia statin? that in December or January list Russia and Persia came loan understanding by which the former has permission to establish a military road from Ashnrada, a Russian naval station situated at the extreme south of the Caspian, near Ashterahad, to Peujdeh, where she will he allowed to quarter as many troops as she thinks necessary. The reason alleged is the necessity of joint action by Russia and Persia for suppressing the raids of the robber tries from Khorassan ; but a glance at the map will suggest that the Russian advance in Asia is a more probable reason. It is stated that Russia intends to send numerous troops along this route in the early spring, and from Peujdeh to advance gradually in a north easterly direction towards JBothara. It is thus clear why Russia does not at once intend to seize Heiat. The letter adds that Persia’s dependence on Russia is steadily increasing.” Intelligence received at Calcutta from Afghanistan states that the Dardistan tribes, the Pathans, inhabiting the territory to the south of them, and also the Lalpuris, are making overtures to the British, whom they regard as their only shield against the Russians and Cabulia. The baiyk and Sa’ar Turcomans preserve a friendly attitude in regard in regard to the Afghan Boundary Commission, but dread the possibility of Afghan domination. There are ouly 2000 Russians at present in the Tekhe country. The Ameer’s i ffioiale, it is added, are preventing the people fiom having intercourse with the Boundary Commission.