THE AFGHANISTAN DIFFICULTY.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1383, 25 August 1885, Page 1

THE AFGHANISTAN DIFFICULTY.

London, July 27. The Paris Gaulois says Prince Bismarck suggested the Zulfikar Pass be made neutral ground, and the question of possession be thereby solved, but military experts in London declare that to make Zulfikar a " no man's land," to be roamed over at will by Cossacks and Afghans, as Bismarck suggests, would be to make a collision inevitable. There would also be continual difficulty about policing the Pass, and enforcing neutrality provisions. If the Pass is to be policed by Russia, it might as well be surrendered to her; if it be under the charge of the Aghans, the situation would be much the game as at present only with greater prospects of hostilities. The report that the Ameer of Afghanistan has assented to the establishment of a British cantonment at Candahar is said by a despatch from Simla, of July 29th, to have no foundation. At the same time, at a recent durbar the Ameer spoke of the relations between hiui6elt and England, saying he was convinced England desired nothing but good to the Afghans. He advised his people to cultivate the friendship of England, and said it would be a bad day for them if they ever came under the " tyrannical rule of Russia." A despatch of July 31st says MnjorGeneral Macgregor is going to Quetta, to select a site for an entrenched camp in the valley of Pisin. Aug. 20. The Liberal and Tory Press, commenting on the recent modification by Russia of her proposals regarding the occupancy of the Zulfikar Pass, generally express their distrust of them, Bombay, Aug. 20. The soi-disant priest, Father Kanovich, who was recently, arrested as a Russian spy, has been sentenced to six months' imprisonment. The authorities hare not succeeded in establishing his identity with the Communist Oliver Pain. New York, Aug. 22. The St. Petersburg correspondent of the New York Herald confirms the j statement that Russia has waived her] claim to the occupancy ot the Zulfikar Pass,