The Feilding Star THURSDAY, SEPT. 29, 1892. Russia and India

Feilding Star, Volume XIV, Issue 44, 29 September 1892, Page 2

The Feilding Star THURSDAY, SEPT. 29, 1892. Russia and India

— ♦ " The Situation in Central Asia" is the title of an article in the Nineteenth Century by Arminius Vambery, which possesses a peculiar interest at the present juncture, in view of recent Kussian movements in the Pamir. It is foolish as well as shortsighted and unpatriotic to pretend that Russia's stealthy advance towards India is a matter of indifference to these colonies. Her lust of conquest is unbounded : that she has designs on India is undoubted; and once in possession of it the Indian Archipelago would be within her grasp, and she would soon be at the outer gates of Australia and New Zealand. Professor Vambery compares Great Britain and Russia to " two antagonists, con. cealing their clenched fists under the ample folds of their garb, while viewing each other with contented and smiling faces." He regrets that he cannot share in the fools' paradise of the deluded optimists, who see nothing but pacific intentions in the attitude of Russia in Central Asia, and he accuses the Czar of having secretly broken the solemn pledge to abstain from further meddling in the northwestern portion of Afghanistan after the Afghan Boundary Commission had completed the work of delimitation. This breach of goodfaith and the comity of nations consists in systematic and insidious endeavours to undermine British influence among the races which form a barrier between Russia's southern outposts and Northern India. The re-call of General Kanioroff, and the appointment of General Kouropatkin— distinguished for his bitter hostility to England— is quoted I as an example of Russia's policy in the East to extend her influence beyond the line of delimitation drawn from Puli Khatim to the Oxus, and particularly beyond the north-west frontier of Herat, the Persian province of Khorasan being selected as the best point d' appin for a progressive march southwards. To accom- [ plish her designs, Russia is tempting the intermediate tribes to seek the protection of the Czar, a move which has already, to some extent, succeeded. Colonel Yanoff's pretended geographical exploration in the Pamirs is described as a distinctly military undertaking, its object being to find practicable roads for the march of a Russian army on Cashmere, via Gilgit, down to a point on the high road between Peshawur and Cabul. Vambery aptly describes the policy of Russia in the Pamirs as " not unlike the behaviour of a man who asks your pardon for treading on your toe, without remoying his foot or relieving the pain he has caused," because she still asserts her claim to the little Pamir, her object evidently being to open up a safe channel of intrigue with the mountaineers now under British influence and protection, and to foment trouble for her rival until the opportunity comes for a descent on the west or. north of Afghanistan. From a strategical point of view it is evident that Russia is fastening her grip around the so-called neutral zone, having already slung her arms around the west and north, and quite recently also around the eastern frontiers of Afghanistan. It is pointed out that the Emir is not wholly to be trusted, notwithstanding the fact that he owes his throne to British support, because he has been trained in the Russian school of diplomacy, and having to play bis cards between Great Britain and Russia he will play off one against the other as occasion seems to demand. Professor Vambery, however, attaches much importance to the defensive measures adopted during the past six years in the north western frontiers of India, though he deems these measures inadequate to check Russia's stealthy advance. For one pace forward made by England, Russia makes ten. Nothing can for long turn her aside from her ultimate design. The Professor thinks the Russian advance southward demands a corresponding move northward on the part of Great Britain until a point is reached where further progress must end. He thinks this would be accomplished by rounding off the present frontier between Beluchistan and East Persia in order to get such a footing in Sistan as will enable England to counteract and threaten any Russian movement towards Meshed. Another defensive measure advocated is the construction of a railway to the Indian Ocean. It is a noteworthy fact, on the other hand, that many British strategists are averse to advancing further .north to meet Russia, preferring to leave the latter to force her way through a difficult country, with, in the event of war, an extended line of operation difficult to maintain against turbulent tribes, whereas England would have all her resources in her immediate rear, and an enormous population to draw upon for fighting purposes. It is very reassuring to learn that Vambery, whose knowledge of Indian affairs and the feelings of eastern racesis so intimate, entertains no apprehension of a mutiny being fomented among the Indian people in an emergency, because the spread of education has opened the eyes of the natives to the beneficence of British rule as compared with the tyranny of Russia. His chief fear is that Russia may succeed in precipitating a collapse of the existing systems in Afghanistan and on the Indian frontier, and take advantage of the disorder to extend her territory. The subject is one which intelligent and patriotic colonists cannot regard with indifference, because it not only touches the integrity of the Empire but the future safety of Australia and New Zealand.