THE POSSESSION OF HERAT.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1921, 21 April 1880, Page 3

THE POSSESSION OF HERAT.

The Vienna correspondent of the "Standard" writes :—" Since the opening of tho English Parliament much attention ha 9 been given hero to the Asiatic question. Should Lord BeacoTisfiold really intend to try and gain over Persia, by releasing hor from her obligation not to occupy Herat, it is assumed here that this will bo tantamount to having Persia ns an outpost of Afghanistan. It is thought that the development of this idea will change the situation in Central Asia, by forcing Kus-ia when marching towards India to deal previously with a third Power. It would alao enable England, in .1 conflict with Russia in Asia, to operate effectively from the Persian Gulf. This is not a question of territorial aggrandisement, as some politicians affeot to believe, but is regarded hero as o bold plan on tho part of Lord Beueonsfleld to mako sure of Herat, at least indirectly, before Russia succeeds in operations against Merv. Should England bo able to make the expedition against Merv fruitless by this timely interposition the authority of Russia in Asia would receive a serious blow. Moreover, the frontiers of India would be fully secured for a long period to come. The campaign in Ir.di* is looked upon ns being a necesmry correction of fmilts committed by the h>3t Liberal Cabinet, a necessary consequence of occupying Afghanistan as an outpost against Russian aHsehs, and bb ft revocation of the policy hitherto

pursued by England towards Persia. This is evidently "what Russia co-aiders to be the future policy of England, r.nd she hopes to thwart it "by hastening on the operation,, apiinst the Turcomans. Indeed, the grcitest exertions are b.iiri;? made to hurry on the Merv expedition. The plan of the campaign has already hern worked out in St. Petersburg. The Russian a*my, advancing along different rou'es, hut ehieiU' froLn Tchikiahlas und Tashkend, will bo divided into throe eorpa. Oro will he commanded by General Knuffmann, and another by General Soi-.ck, while the third will remain for the present i'.h the reserve, under the command : .f the Grand Duko Michael. The chief command of tho expedition will devolvo upon Genital Skobeleff. As tho advance of the Tcbikishlar column through the Attrok Valley chic fly depends upon the support derived from Persia, the step now being taken by IV e English Cabinet is, according to public opinion, calculated to interfere with the 1 movements of that column. Rumors are cur-

rent hero that a ruphuro of the diplomatic relations between Russia and Persia is imminent, that the Russian Envoy at Teheran is making preparations for his departure, after protesting against the occupation of Herat by Persian troops. The Russian authorities assort that this occupation is to take place in April, as the Shah, with a large military escort, intends leaving Teheran on the sth of April, professedly on a pilgrimage to Meshed, in Khorassen, which is in the neighborhood of Herat. They affirm that his real design is to take command of the Persian troops now assembled there, which are estimated to bo about 12,000 in number."