The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 15, 1905. SAFEGUARDING INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 7822, 15 May 1905, Page 2

The Daily News. MONDAY, MAY 15, 1905. SAFEGUARDING INDIA.

From the necessarily condensed cable report of the important speech delivered by Mr Balfour in the House of Commons on the 12th inst., and published in our issue of the following day, it is evident that the Imperial Cabinet is fully alive to the great danger to which India is exposed, and to the steps needful to prevent the possibility of any attempt on the part of Russia even to pave "the way for an invasion. Our readers are well aware that the most vulnerable point of attack i>y Russia on India would bo tho Afghani frontier. As matters are at present Afghanistan acts as a buffer Slate, and the difficulties of transporting, and supplying with the necessaries of life such a vast armed force as would be required by Russia for any invasion of India, could not be overcome. The real danger, therefore, lies in allowing Russia to exercise not only her creeping tactics in the gradual absorption of; Afghanistan, but also the equally dangerous- policy of constructing one or more of those strategic railways which play such an important part in the attempts to extend the boundaries of the Russian Empire. We have already had an object lesson of some magnitude in connection ( with that wily policy in Manchuria and Siberia, so that, although the British Prime Minister diplomatically stated "there were not the smallest grounds for believing that Russia intends to build a railway in Afghanistan in coimeotion with the Russian strategic railway," the context amply demonstrates the fact that, although the danger is non-

existent, the possibility of Ha arising is by no means remoto. In fact, tho gravity of his words is unmistakable. "I think)," said Mr Balfour, "it is within our power, without fundamental re-organisation of our forces, such as is implied by Conscription or any similar devic*, to make India and the Colonies, equally with the Motherland, absolutely secure." Morcovor, this far-seeing statesman expressed the opinion that it ought to be considered an act of direct aggression against Great Britain if an attempt were made to

build a railway in Afghanistan in con-

nection with the Russian strategic railway system. In that pronouncement lies the crux of the whole matter, and it is evident from the re-

marks which subsequently fell from the same lips that any departure

from that standpoint would lay the Imperial Government open to the charge of unpardonable "laxity, blindness, or cowardice." The view that Lord Kitchener takes of the si-

tuation is evidently that of an" able (Jcneral who wisely desires to Jeave Bothing to chance, and to be prepared for any emergency that may irisc. He considers that, in addition to the ordinary drafts of British troops for service in India, " thero must foe available for the defence of India, relatively early, eight divisions of infantry and oilier corresponding nrms, all from Great Britain." Jf the words mean anything-, they certainly point to the possibility of Russia, with the connivance of the-Ameer of Afghanistan, attempting to take India with a rush, hence the need for preparations to meet such a contingency. ft j s the uncertainty relative to the part which: Afghanistan may play at any given time that necessitates extra vigilawyj md precautions. The Ameer has more than onca shown that he is susceptible to Ilussian bribes and intrigue!*, and although ho lias a sub' sidy of £120,000 a year from the In-. Jian Government, there is always the ianger of his going over to the enemy, together with his armed forces, tt-liich, on a war footing, may oe taken as 80,000 horse and 00,000 loot. Tho menace exists, and must je guarded against, for although it ' night scan that Russia's ambitious ' schemes for the annexation of In- 1 3ia are but as a dream, and under i present circumstances a matter wor- I Ihy only of being treated with coil- ' lemptuous indifference, wc cannot af- ' ord to be lulled into false security, J lor is it policy to have to pay a f leavy prico for supinencss. Mi- Bal- * lour hat accurately summarised the ' situation, and it rests with the Im- ' >erial Government to take effective t steps to safeguard India, the Colon o es, and the Motherland. )'