RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 11, 17 April 1885, Page 3

RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.

The point m dispute between the Russian and the English Government (says the Pall Mali Gazette) is as follows: — The Russians say : "We take the Turkomans and you the Afghans. Let us instruct our Commissioners to draw a boundary line that will, as far as possible, be south of the last Turkoman and „ Uorth of the first. Afghan. In drawing this frontier, however, some regard must be had to economical conditions. The Salor Turkomans who belong to us have from all time grazed on the fertile pasture lying to the South of Sarakhs . and to the north of the mountain range which forms the only defensible frontier of Herat. From this region also they draw the salt without which they cannot ' live. If there is to be any peace on the Afghan frontier, our Turkoman subjects must keep their grazing lands and salt beds. We leave Afghanistan all the strategical advantages, including both ends ,pf all the passes W* onl y as^ f or tile TiVrk()mans the land without which ■ ; they 'C^niiot live." Such, we believe, is , the substance of M. Lessar's proposal, '-"■■■ 'and on; flic surface it appears reasonable ■'/'*tioxi%&'' : ' : &'-~'fcQniieic drawn on these 1 Uhe3 W6iiid fall eighty miles north of ' Herat and fifty miles north of the first ':'-' "^o|{tj6n' where an army defending Herat ;:''f|p.^id Jake its stand. I'jxi the Anglo-Colonial letter, the Lon- :■■•■. don correspondent of the South Austra- : > lian Advertiser /said according to conservative Buisso^ljobists, there may be a call for :Au3tr«fian troops elsewhere than y : "iii : tihe- jSlpq3ai^ . Russia is accused of tak''"■■•irig'kd^au^ge.'of our troubles to snatch <. tHeifat from our influence. Russian a 4>jo^ittials deny the impeachment, but say £.<;■. fcttaf if.cbufse if Britain does not keep ;•■>* things tinder a firm hand m Afghanistan and its borders, Russia must intervene m the,, cause ot civilisation and safety. f doubt that Russia has designs on Herat, and that but for the loud ,t:'<>utei?y ill 'Britain she would at once take -..possession. An inevitable struggle beRussia and Britain m regard to .Central Asia is certainly niore a certainv ty than ever, and a nearer certainty is -the drawing together of Italy and Britain. It is a most striking feature of ' the times that m Italy alone is Britain cordially praised. In the Italian Senate and newspapers alone is British policy supported and praised, and m Romo alone are professions of sympathy and offers of assistance made. To put ifc plainly, Britain and Italy are allied, and • there is no doubt that some secret ar- : - rangenienfcs between the London and •. -Borne Governments are the cause of the marked friendliness towards Britain which resounds throughout Italy. The Italians are unquestionably occupying Massowah on the Red Sea with the direct connivance of Britain. There will shortly be m Massowah 8000 Italian troops, supported by first-class ironclads. For what purpose are the Italians m j Massowah? Not to invade Abyssinia. Of that assurance has been given. Are they to occupy Soudan after we leave it? There one may place the tip of the fineer on the tongue, and, like Sam Weller, whistle soft and long.