Importance of Herat,

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3455, 21 January 1880, Page 2

Importance of Herat,

The Moscow correspondent of the Cologne Gazette says:—" The inhabitants of the Bokhara, the Turkomans, aud even the Persians, will never recognise two masters iv Asia at the same time, and, accordingly, au understanding between Kussia aud England would be idle, as its object, the assurance of tranquility in Central Asia could not be attained. It is, however, mo^tthan doubtful whether the two Powers Iff?' troubling themselves at all about thisYp. ; iject. They each, ou tho contrary, jffejm -^ their own special aims and interetSwp' which are diametrically opposed. England in her policy goes to work, at any rate, the more openly ; she does not conceal her hostile attitude iv Asia ai regnrds I>ui«i«, under the eloal?

of human principles and efforts at civilisation, but openly takes up her ground as the enemy of Russia in all respects. Each of the two powers is exploring the unknown regions of Asia under various pretexts of scientific research, and each of them keeps its own agents j.and if Russia is slowly making efforts to undermine England's power, none the less is England keeping herself prepared to tttrike a decisive blow at Bussia's influence ia Central Asia. According to fippearances, the Afghan war was the first, st*p in this direction. It would almost eeem as though both Powers had met one another upon a neutral field unprepared. Bu>sia, who, in many respects whs the cause of- the war, found herself compelled tolet the war take its course, resolving to make up for it in another way, and to checkmate j England's success in another quarterthat is, by the expedition in the AkhalTekke Oasis. England at present can only attempt to put obstacles in the way ot tit© Russian expedition, and hinder her from taking Merv. In,our opinion no understanding can be arrived at between the two Powers, even in case the Eoglish held Herat and left Merv to the .Russians. England would, in those circumstances, manifestly be at disadvantage, for Kussia would have the way o>>en to Herat on both sides—from Mt^Pv .hd, from Bokhara; while by the occupation of Herat England would not only break the treaty concluded with' Afghanis* tan, but would also injure the in* terests of Persia as we U as Russia. England is perfectly conscious of the difficulties of her position, and, therefore, first tries other means of putting obstacles in the way of Russia's advance, contenting herself with not withdrawing her troops from Candahar. The intervening space separating the two opposed Powers has grown much narrower wilhin the past ten years. The twq points about which the? solution ot the question of Central Asia—* a question equally important to each of the two opponents—depends are Merr and Herat. Merv is a question of life or death for Eussia. On the other band, England would not allow Herat to pass into Russian possession without a life and death struggle.