THE STATE OF AFGHANISTAN.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1904, 1 April 1880, Page 3

THE STATE OF AFGHANISTAN.

The Cabul correspondent of the. "Times" telegraphing on February Bth, sayß : —The more I see of the present state of Afghanistan and the more I mix with its Sirdars, the less do I wonder that the Government should be slow in deciding how to deal witn the present situation. There can, however, be no doubt that the question presses for solution. Our present attitude of apparent hesitation almost invites another coalition against us, and our prolonged military occupation of Cabul is almost as offensive to patriotic Afghans, or Afghans interested in the independence of their country, as if we declared our determination to annex the country. Three months ago, in the then apparently acquiescent Btate of the people, much could be said in favor of a policy of waiting upon events and some strong man coming to the front, but such a leader in Afghanistan did not arise, nor is there any present indication of any chief posßesiing the ability or influence to take real command of the country. In fact, it daily becomes more apparent to careful observers that Afghanistan is not a nation which can be held together by any but a very extraordinary man. S-'uch a man apparently was Shere Ali, who for at least a few years of his reign certainly exercised a very real and far-reaching authority over even such a remote dependency as Herat. Now, however, that Shere Ali is gone, the different component provinces of Afghanistan at once resolve themselves, as a matter of course, into separate and independent States. Herat, for instancy is rarely even mentioned at Cabul, its affairs sfemingly exciting no interest amonpr the Sirdars who are gathered round General Eoberts. In the same way the interests of Candahar are treated as quite foreign from those of Cabul, and I can trace no feeliDg of jealousy among those Afghans I meet at the way in which the affairs oftbt former province have been bo long administered by General Stewart and the Sirdars who are acting under him. Turkestan, indeed, as being nearer, is regarded with more interest; yet even this interest ia languid, while the more remote provinces of Badakshan and Wakhan are never mentioned, and the attention of the Afghan Sirdars seems limited to the affairs of Ghazni, Logar, and Kohistan. These facts appear to me to suggest the inference that we have heard the last of a united Afghanistan, and that for some years at least the only Power which could, if it chooses, again build up Afghanistan into a solid, united kingdom ia England. _ Notwithstanding recent combinations against us, I think that if such an improbable decision were adopted we should encounter in its execution no more than a very perfunctory resistance. The assertion may seem strange, but I believe that such a decision would be more unpopular with the British officers and European and native soldiers than with the Afghans themselves. It is, however, a fact that neither officers nor men aro_ fascinated by the prospect of prolonged service here, and that few would be sorry to exohonge the discomforts of Afghanistan for the conveniences of India. All, indeed, are ready to do their dm'y to the end, but the British officers at Cabul have not that craving for conquost and adventure with which the Bussian officers serving in Turkestan are rightly or wrongly credited.