RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 109, 13 April 1885, Page 3

RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.

A RUSSIAN ON THE AFGHAN FRONTIER QUESTION.

Madame de Novikoff, whose husband is Chancellor of the St. Petersburg University, and who is well known by her wrtings during the Bulgarian, atrocity agitation and the Russo-Turkish war, man article on " The Rossianisation of England," says:— The last point ou which you have become altogether Russian is the importance which you attach to the delimitation of the northern frontier of Afghanistan. For years Russia has been pressing this scheme upon England with but little success. At last you adopt it, and now you are so eager to have the work carried out that you are almost ready to crucify our commissioner because he fell dangerously ill and could not begin the surveys m the middle of. winter. I confess it seems rather difficult to be ■elated with the delimitation scheme. I do not know exactly who the promoter of it was ; at all events, that scheme was not a stroke of genius and there fa little ground for boasting .pver it. . That poor product of human ingenuity, however, has been joyfully adopted by both contracting Powers. Far away from political controversies, judging that scheme while residing m one of the loveliest spots m Sicily, where everything looked serene ami happy, a few Russians came together, and .that very subject was discussed. The ex-f pressed no objection to the definition of the Afghan frontier ; quit© the opposite. Anything that eliminates points of difference between neighbours isgood, and it will, no <loubt, be a gain to all the geographical societies that there should be a new map of a country of whibh very little is known. But what may be a cause of regret is the belief that seems to prevail m England that if you draw a frontier on the map, you have solved the Centrar Asian question. Is that not a delusion and a dangerous one ? A new map settles nothing ; a streak of colour painted on a map will not convert either Turkoman or Afghan into saints. After a line is drawn, everything will go on pretty much as before. Afghans, not over respectful about geographical discoveries, will raid into Russian territory, or attack: 'Russian caravans, as their impulse, will guide them to d«\ What then ? Are we to respect a frontier which is only an asylum for marauders? It is impossible. Has not Prince Bismark yet convinced yon that your •jurisdiction must,- be effective if you are to expect that it will be respected ? You have leaned that you cannot be a dog m the manger m Africa and the Pacific. Do you think it possible to play that role m Central Asia? lam afraid of being misunderstood m expressing my personal doubts. Russia is certainly not anxious to have the Afghans alone responsible for their duty. Not at all. If England is answerable for them so much she better. If you are going to protect, you will have to control, and the new frontier will be as all other frontiers have been, unless you answer for order on the inner side Bat will the gooii understanding between Russia and England not be put m jeopardy if the Afghans decide to trouble us and embarrass you by some new savage trick.