The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1885.
The extremely unsatisfactory state of affairs existent in the East shows no sign of disappearance, and the clouds which have bo long overhung the position are not only not dispersing but are gradually thickening. The situation at the. present time is in fact' one of very considerable importance, more especially to the Mother Country, which has so much on its hands ab present. The chief interest is, of course, centred in Asia, and there, undoubtedly, the largest trouble lies. The Ilussian, ever pursuing wily tactics—when prompted by more experienced heads than his own-—has, without any recognition of honorable, behaviour or following any desire beyond that of self-aggrandisement, npparently resolved to attack British interests, while Graatßritain's hands are full, Harrassed in Egypt, and by the Boers in South Africa; threatened in one of her moit itoporUui, colonies by a rising
nmong the Indian tribes, and havii.'g internal troubles to contend with, all incline towards the belief that a very unsatisfactory condition of things is existaut in the affairs of Great Britain. The British Premier may be playing as deep a game in this case as his opponents ; he—it is possible—may have in train a succession of arrangements requiring time to carry into effect. Troops cannot be placed on the Russo-Atsb.au frontier in a moment, or without consideration, and while Bussia is attending to affairs in this direction—she has little else to do just now, her nihilists are rather quiet—the British Government may be girding up their loins, and. preparing for a war in Afghanistan. It must be admitted that indignity has been heaped upon the head of Albion, but this may afterwards be much reduced in character, when the actual steps taken by the British Government, and the reasons for taking them, become known. It has been over and over again asserted that Bussia has only been gaining, or endeavoring to gain, time; she certainly has done so, and has used that time well in bringing her forces to a decisive spot so rapidly, hut other Powers may have been on the alert at the- same moment, and have taken time by the forelock with a similar motive in view. It is somewhat difficult to account for the apparent contempt which England's ultimatum met with at Russian hands. Ifc was sent by the British Government fourteen days almost before a reply came, and then the answer WBS not an open or' straightforward one. One of to-day's telegrams puts the case very speciously, and tries to throw the blame of the disastrous engagement of last week on the Afghans. This is, of course, under the heading of a telegram dated St. Petersburg, and another points out that the semi-official organ of the Government declines to allow- that the action of Komarpff was prompted by aggressive motives. Very encouraging telegrams from the Soudan appear in another column, and by them it will be seen that a large Dumber of the rebels are likely to tender submission to British authority ; this, if it, be true, will to some extent enable British forces to concentrate their efforts in the larger district now demanding attention, and it is more than likely that if a strong stand be made by Great Bri'cian, Russia will attempt to show by her actions what method of make she is, and if we are not somewhat mistaken there is a very fair possibility open of Russia being somewhat tamer when Britain's hands are more free to deal with her and her Indian ambitions. In the meantime one can only watch and wait.
Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi
https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/THS18850413.2.8
Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka
Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5068, 13 April 1885, Page 2
Word count
Tapeke kupu
604The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. MONDAY, APRIL 12, 1885. Thames Star, Volume XVI, Issue 5068, 13 April 1885, Page 2
Using this item
Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi
No known copyright (New Zealand)
To the best of the National Library of New Zealand’s knowledge, under New Zealand law, there is no copyright in this item in New Zealand.
You can copy this item, share it, and post it on a blog or website. It can be modified, remixed and built upon. It can be used commercially. If reproducing this item, it is helpful to include the source.
For further information please refer to the Copyright guide.