THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1736, 12 September 1879, Page 3

THE SITUATION IN AFGHANISTAN.

Frequent letters of recent date from Cabul describe the general state of things there as satisfactory. The Ameer has no difficulties with the people. The only two places where the situation is threatening arc Herat and Badakshan. Herat is in charge of Mahmoud Aynb Khan, the Ameer's brother by the same mother, and even if Ayub were disposed to conspire, his disaffection is likely to vanish on the arrival of the Ameer, accompanied by the British Envoy at Herat, it having been projected that they should within three or four months hence make a tour together through Afghanistan. Badakshan is the more likely to give trouble. Philo-Russian intrignnrg there may explain to the rebel chief, Mir Baba Khan, that the English will not interfere in the internal troubles of Afghanistan, and that the Ameer alone is not strong enough to crush him. Even Mir Baba Khan, however, when he sees the Ameer firmly allied with the British and recognises how British has triumphed over Russian diplomacy in Afghanistan, will probably join the winning side, and desist from a resistance to extremities which might involve his complete ruin. Herat and Badakshan tranquillised, no obstacle is left beyond the chronic risk of foreign intrigues, against which the constant presence of an Envoy of Major Cavagnari's ability is a strong safeguard, especially that he enjoys the advantage of control over the foreign relations of Afghanistan, backed by personal influence over the Ameer, with whom he is on the best termß. It is important to bear in mind that even at the worst, assuming that the Anglo-Afghan treaty were rendered worthless by the Ameer's caprice, weakness, or death, this failure does not deprive England of one of the military positions commanding Cabul, which it gained by the war. These positions, however, render more necessary than ever the construction, so long delayed, of lines of railway to keep the English base of operations properly supplied.