WHY ENGLAND HESITATED.

Dunstan Times, Issue 1218, 3 July 1885, Page 3

WHY ENGLAND HESITATED.

It is stated that among the pi'inci* pal causes -which operated to produce a change in the attitude of the English Government towards Russia was the receipt of a report from Sir Donald Stewart, the Commander-in-chief in India, to the effect that the Indian Army could not as a matter of prudence undertake an expedition to Herat until the railway is completed to the Pisheon Yalley, which, it is now ascertained, will not he done in less than three years. The choice of the Sovereign to whom the question in dispute between the two Governments as to the interpreta* tion of the agreement of March 16 will be referred has not, yet been made. The Russian Amhassahor and M. Lessar had an interview with Lord Granville on May 7, and, it may be presumed, discussed with him the delimitation of the Russo-Afghan boundary, When Sir Peter Lumsdeu leaves the camp of the Afghan Boundary Commission to return to Engs

land, the command will be left to Colonel Ridgeway, who brought the Indian portion of the Commission fiom Hindi to Kuhsan last autumn, under conditions which reflect the highest credit on the capacity of that officer. Colonel Ridgeway is one of the Assistant Commissioners. Major Holdich, 11. 8., is at the head of the Survey Department, with Captains Gore, Peacocke, and Talbot, of the same corps, under him. With the exact maps made by Major Holdich’s department the boundary can be as easily settled in London as on the Heri Rud or the Murghab. The question to be first settled refers to the zone in which the boundary is to be laid down; the- knowledge acquired on the spot by Sir Peter Lurasden, will be more valuable there, when he comes home, than it would be if he were in Afghanistan. The time tele« graphing will be saved and he can be consulted on the minutest details at an} moment. The Russian Ambassador has had a similar advantage of having M. Lessir beside him, who surveyed the ground in connection with the Trans-Caspian Railway a few years ago. When the important question of “ the zones” has been settled, the Engineers undei Major Holdich should be quite capable of laying down the exact line of the boundary. Colonel Ridgeway will of course, be on the spot as a Commissioner, and will be responsible tor details.