THE AFGHAN QUESTION.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1209, 1 May 1885, Page 3

THE AFGHAN QUESTION.

A RUSSIAN JOURNAL ON THE SITUATION. The Sfc. Petersburg)! correspondent of the Times writes :— ,, The Vreinya' pours out the vials of its wrath in a some" ■what threatening tone. England, it intimates, is only now reaping what Lord Beaoonsfield sowed for it: and every nation in Europe, even small Belgium and Portu« gal, no longer feels the least timidity before English influence and threats, to say nothing of Russia. Indeed, so low is English prestige that the ‘ Novoe Vremya’seems to share the opinion of the * Cologne Gazette, which it quotes, that Russia need have no fear of British protests, as England cannot possioly go to war with Russia, and will inevitably be compelled at last to accept Russia’s conditions. ‘We do not want India itself,’ says the ‘Novoe Vremya,’ 1 but we want to have a thoroughly secure position alongside of that empire, and we are perfectly certain that no permanent peace and quiet between Russia and England is possible until we have our natural frontier, whether it suits certain Khans and Ameers or not.’ The 1 Novoe Vremya’ also, allud ing to the report that the British Government will probably fortify and occupy Herat, adds that it such be England’s views, they will result in the complete destruction of all agreements between the two Governments. On the other hand, 1 have heard it statad by a very high personage here that the Russian Government does not care much what we do with Herat as long as we give Russia-what she claims in the matter of frontier rights.” RUSSIAN PUBLIC OPINION. It is certain that there are two parties in Russia, just as it is certain that there are two opinions among those who govern that country. According to the oue class, Russia should take alt she can, extend her frontier as far as possible, and occupy every territory within reach. Those who take this view lose no chance of reminding us thatjßussian Ambassadors, above all those who should know England better than others, have never ceased to dec are to their Government that the English are not in a position to resist an aggression of Russia, and that the Russian armies can, without striking a blow, lay hands un all the territory which England has declared to bn under her protection. Gene alsj I'cher raif ff and Scoboleff are tne true representatives ot this party. The others, on the contrary, would like Russia to stop on the road to Afghanistan, to be satisfied tor some time 'with what she now possesses, not to provoke a conflict with England, and to avoid a complication, of which her enemies, or perhaps those representing themselves perfidiously as her friends, would'take advantage to reduce her as much in one direction as she would gain in another. These, 1 must admit, have with them M. de Giers, who is a most re-olute adversary of any immediate action which could lead to a conflict with England, to the fall of Mr Gladstone, and the elevation to power of his opponents. It is in consequence of the opposition of these two parties in public life, in the Press, and in the Government, that we can establish the existence of two contradictory currents, one pacific and the other warlike, one favorable to concessions and the other full ot aggressive ideas. The ■ Journal de St Petersbonrg' strives to tranquillise public opinion, while the ‘ Nord’ laughs pleasantly at the apprehensions of the English public. It is for this reason that the attempt has been made at St. Petersburgh to reduce the importance of the fully justified revelations which our Paris correspondent pubished. j But it would bo a mistake to suppose that these revelatiens proceeded from any one who encouraged the aggi esaiva parly. They were made, on the contrary, by one who hoped, and who no doubt still hopes, that, I thanks to the publicity given to them in the columns of the Times, they must succeed in stopping the persistent aspirations of the military parly. The truth is that the firm ami resolute attitude of England will suffice to charm away this danger. The military party assumes that its proposals can be carried out with impunity, and bases the plan of its enterprises on the pretended weakness of England It ihmks that the time is well chosen to make its encroachments, when England is involved in the Egyptian complications, which weigh so heavily on her powers. But the Russian war party, in its distant scene of action, was, perhaps, not prepared for the spectacle presented by the English colonies, who grouped themselves with such patriotic fervor around the parent State at the moment when she was called upon to make sacrifices. This event vastly increases the power of England. It is one which must have surprised very many observers, this movement of the colonies, springing out of the very aggressions prompted against the United Kingdom by a Machiavellian policy. The Russian war party does not perhaps understand, that when the time comes to defend Afghani stan, England, if she he forced to do so, can remind Europe that the fanatical soldiers of the Mahdi are a menace to the whole civilised world ; that if ever she (England) wishing to direct her forces against Russia, should be weakened in her power to defend E ypt, it is not only Egypt that would be menaced, but Morocco, Tripoli, Tunis, and Algeria, which would be handed over to Mussulman barbarism, and would become centres of insurrection, not to be suppressed. This would reopen the Eastern Question in its most critical form, and might lead to one of those conflagrations against which are powerless the most cunningly contrived com hinations. It is possible, even probable, that such a prospecr, or snch a probability, would suggest serious thoughts to those who seek f o provoke a conflict between Russia and England. It is moreover impossible that this 'bought should not have taken possession of all who direct the public allnrs of Europe ; and this being so, their common efforts will tend to prevent such possibilities by firmly advising Russia to abstain from aggressive movements. It will certainly suffice for the English nation to show determined resolution promptly to bring about a pacific solution.— Times.