The Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY.) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1885. THE AFGHAN DIFFICULTY.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 137, 15 May 1885, Page 2

Manawatu Standard (PUBLISHED DAILY. ) The Oldest Daily Newspaper on the West Coast. FRIDAY, MAY 15, 1885. THE AFGHAN DIFFICULTY.

1 t would appear by a cablegram* which we published m yesterday's issue that the Afghan frontier difficulty is not yet' finally disposed of. jEarl Gkai^ille's statement m the first place was explicit enough, and . apparently left no doubt of any reseryatiou whatever. But it would seem that Earl Ghanville has sin,ce qualified his former statsment by the explanation that the arrangement which, at first sight, appeared so satisfactory as having been agreed to by all the Powers concerned, has yet to receive the Czar's approval. This is obviously a very important? factor m the final adjustment of the international agreement. It maybe that the Czar may acquiesce m theproposed arrangement; thoughj'on J the othnr hand, he may not, but may raise or create objections more" or less likely- to cause further and 1 more serious complications. At present nothing definite or authentic is known as to the- exact n^fur^of the agreement to which tlhfe CfzarV approvallitas yet to be formally given. The original information,whicb the public generally regarded as asubjeet for congratulation, appears to have lacked the essential element of the whole truth. , Something was kept back — something with which Earl Gkanville should have "qualified his statement," but which he neglected or omitted to do. Bearing m mind the subtle character of the Czar, there is an element of vague uncertainty m the present position, which will not improbably engender uneasiness m the public mind as to the prospective issue even 'yet* Were it possible to view the actions and motives of the Czar with feelings free from any suspicion, of duplicity or insincerity, the present position would wear quite a different aspect. But this, m the light of experience and past history, it is impossible to do. We can only hope that now 1 when, the war cloud which, till recently, has darkened the horizon, has somewhat lifted, nothing will occur to cause a renewal of those apprehensipns, and that painful feeling of suspense that had a tendency to paralyze trade, and seriously retard all progress and interfere with settled prosperity. It is hoped that the next news received will be to the effect that the agreement, which we must presume will not be such as to compromise England's honour or prestige, will have received complete ratification at the hands of Russia. Meantime, it will be seen that the fortification of Herat and the Afghan frontier is being proceeded with, so that the war scare would have had one good effect, viz., m arousing the English Cabinet from a very dangerous state of apathy and fancied security which nothing short of ..the übsolijts im minence of hostilities was sufficient -to remove. Still, it must be borne m mind, that according to the best/ sources of information, war between England and Russia is only temporarily postponed. • ■ j