The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1878-11-23 00:00:00

THE STOURBRIDGE OBSERVtit.

MR. BAXTER, M.P., AT BRECHIN.

On Monday night the Right Hon. W. E. Baxter, MP., for
the Montrose Burghs, addressed a crowded meeting of his
constituents at Pcs3hln.

Dealing at length with the financial condition of the
country, Mr. Baxter said it was such as to cause the
gravest anxiety to every thoughtful mind. Trarie
was had, and might be worse; revenue was falling off
in all its important branches, and the national expen-
diture was rapidly rising. We had traduced and
insulted one of the great European Powers, and we
were out of harmony with all the other Powers in
Europe. We had got into a new quarrel on the fishery
question with the United States, and we were on the
verge of another war with Afghanistan.

In dealing with the Eastern Question, the right hon.
gentleman observed :—To those who have examined
the question from all points of view, especially the
geographical, the idea of danger to India from a
Russian invasion must seem simply preposterous.
She would have to convey an army of 200,000 men,
with 400,000 camels, 300,000 horses, and a million and
a half of camp followers across the desert between
Orenburgh and Tashkend, and through the passes of
the Hindoo Koosh, before even reaching Afghanistan,
which is a broad region of lofty mountains and tre-
mendous defiles. Every round shot brought to
Central Asia costs her two pounds in transport alone,
and on emerging from the last of the many terrible
passes she would encounter an enemy whose resources
are boundless, having railways at command and
undisputed sway on the ocean. Well might the
present Emperor of Russia say that for Russia to
menace India would be an "act of folly if practicable."
Even our warlike spirits have at last found this out,
and accordingly they have changed their ground.
Admitting that an invasion now or at any reasonable
future time is out of the question and impossible, they
say that Russia may creep on slowly, gradually
uniting the tribes on the frontier against us, and in
the end managing to line our northern boundary with
a compact body of enemies. Surely it looks like a
burlesque on statesmanship to make costly and cruel
provision now for poseible, but to my mind most im-
probable, contingencies a hundred years hence. The
danger to India is of a very different kind; it
' is internal, not external, arising from neglect and
' mis•government, with which Russian intrigues
have nothing whatever to do. Mr. Hunter, one
of our ablest and most experienced civil servants,
has assured us in his most recent work that
the Mussulmans are only waiting a favourable
opportunity again to try to throw off our yoke. I have
only two more sentences to add on this branch of the
subject. Russia, we are constantly told, is an
ambitions, aggressive, and annexing Power, and that
such Powers ought to be checked in their career. If
that be so, what about ourselves? During the last
138 years Russia has conquered 1,642,0, 0 square miles,
inhabited by 17,133,000 people. During the same
period Great Britain has conquered, altogether apart
from colonies like Australia, annexed without con-
quest, 2,650,000 square miles, inhabited by 250,000,000
people. It now seems certain that public opinion in
India, as well as at home, is greatly divided in regard
to the adequacy of our present frontier, the propriety
of forcing an envoy upon the Ameer, and the wisdom
of departing from that "masterly inactivity" which
distinguished the Governments of Lord Northbrook
and Lord Lawrence. In my opinion, the preponder-
ance of testimony against the present and in favour of
the past policy is overwhelming; but even were it not
so, are you going to undertake a war which some of
your best Indian authorities tell you would be an
unjust one, and which even if successful would
land you in a series of interminable difficulties?
Supposing you overrun Afghanistan and dethrone
the Ameer, what is to follow? The country is in-
habited by mountaineers as brave as any that exist
on the face of the earth; they abhor the idea of be-
coming vassals of any foreign State, and they lean
to Russia rather than to Britain, because they suspect
the designs of the latter more. Lord Beaconsfield's
speech in the Guildhall is an indication that even he
and his colleagues have begun to be aware that the
nation is alarmed at their policy. (Hear, hear.)
"The hair-brained chatter of irresponsible frivolity"
are strong, but not too strong terms for the Prime
Minister to characterise the recent writings and utter.
ances of his warmest supporters. How in his heat he
must despise the whole tribe of Jingoes. (Laughter
and applause.) But his views about the state of
Turkey and its future in my opinion are wholly
chimerical and impracticable. To reform and regene-
rate a set of men so debased I believe to be beyond
our power. So far from the capital being "im-
pregnable," the handwriting on the wall may even
now be as clearly seen in Constantinople as it was in
Babylon. Lord Beaconsfield himself has been a party
to "dividing the kingdom," and you may depend upon
it that the "finishing" is not far off. (Applause.)
At the close of his address Mr. Baxter received a
cordial vote of confidence.

PERSONAL RECOLLECTIONS OF THE
AMEER SHERE ALI KHAN.
"An Anglo-Indian," in the Graphic, gives the following
interesting particulars resp_ctiLg the Ameer Share At
Khan : -
"I first met Shere Ali, the present Ameer of Cabul,
in March, 1869, when he visited India for a conference
with Earl Mayo at Umballa. He was then a man 01
about fifty years of age, of middle stature, with marked
aquiline features, and with a fine soldierly bearing
Indeed, so anxious are the Barakzai rulers of Cabul to
be considered soldiers and chiefs rather than Icings that
they have never assumed the title of Shah, but merely
that of Anteer. Shere All struck me as a man of re-
markably good common sense, and his powers of con-
versation were very great. During his stay atPeshawur,
both on his way to Umballa, and on his return to
Cabul, he held daily levees, and spent most of his time
in friendly interviews with the European and natives
who visited him. In his lengthened conversation with
European vi-itors (with whom lie always took tea),
he evinced a very correct acquaintance with the leading
facts of European history. This was all the more
notable because he was unable to read or write, and
had thereby acquired his information from conversa-
tions with those of his attendants who were able to
read, and especial clerk, acquainted with English, has
always been kept at the Court of Cabul to translate
articles and telegrams from the Indian newspapers. I
found he knew much of the history of Napoleon the
First, Peter the Great, Alexander, and even Alfred
the Great. His favourite character was Napoleon,
and on no account would he yield the palm to our
Wellington. His sense of humour was very great. 'I
know I am a savage,' he said one day, 'but you Eng-
lish were just as bad three hundred years ago ! ' Once,
when he was unusually talkative, he said, How
dreadfully afraid you English are of the Russians!'
Not in the least,' I replied; we shall be excellent
neighbours some day!' Ah,' he said, 'if you
were not afraid of the Russians you would not
make so much of me!' Re affected not to be im-
pressed with the beauty of English ladies, and several
times remarked as he passed them, 'Ah! I see you
keep all your pretty women at home ! ' He frequently
expressed his abhorrence of low-necked dresses and
short-tailed coats, and said such advances in the scale
of civilisation were contrary to his religion, for they
were forbidden by the Prophet ! He professed to be a
devout and pious Musli-a, but numerous empty
bottles told of frequent departures from the strict in-
junctions of his religion, and when at Jalandar, where
he was received in the most friendly manner by Sir
D. Forsyth, he did not hesitate to suggest that cherry
brandy was much more suited to his taste when served
in tumblers than in small liqueur glasses.
"He was most impressed by the tine manly bearing
of the Viceroy, and all present at the Umballa Durbar
observed bow this semi-savage, fresh from his native
hills, quailed beneath the host itable, but truly British,
grasp of Lord Mayo's hand. It was a long time before
any one knew the real results of the Umballa Con-
ference, but it was to Shere Ali's interest to make it
appear that he possessed a Treaty, and it was this im-
pression that he endeavoured to give upon his return
journey, nevertheless I can now recall a gloomy mood
of depression and despondency which was a marked
contrast to the high spirits with which he entered
India. lam now a king 1' he over and over ex-
claimed, as he witnessed the lavish expenditure of
money upon his reception, but doubtless, when he
found he had obtained no written security of friend-
ship for his dynasty, an idea as cherished to a Barakzai
as it is to a Bonaparte, his heart failed him, for he saw
in the future but a repetition of the past—civil war!
dethronement! death!
"The Ameer's youngest son, Abdullah Jan, was
with him, and appeared to be a youth of some promise
—he was then about twelve years of age. He could
read and write Persian, and was then learning Eng-
lish. The Ameer often spoke of his eldest son,
Yakoob, in terms of admiration, and told me he was a
very fair English scholar, and a fine soldier. The
Ameer generally spoke Persian, but to the Afghan
villager and hill-men he spoke Pushto ; he could
also, make himself understood in Hindustani, and
could give the military words of command in
English. He has had the reputation of being
an author, for a book against Wahhaby ism
bears his name, but it was written by a Moulvie
in the name of the Ameer of Cabul. He always
seemed much interested in the manner and customs of
, and conversed
and
a for
domestichoursl
if
e. v
on
\h
subjectse
Indiain nenEencgtel id
he s hpeople,withh ou
gohu bought up
national
up all the second-hand uniforms of
European officers he could lay his hands on for the use
of his staff, and he also purchased rather an extensive
English wardrobe for himself. He said the European
dress was the dress for soldiers, and the Oriental dress
for women and priests. When asked by Lord Mayo
how he liked the dress of the Highland regiments, he
said it was "terrific." but "was it decent?" Of all
the presents he received at Urnballa, the mountain train
battery of guns and the two English horses which Lord
Mayo gave him appeared to delight him most. Both to
and from Urubatla, a distance of about 5.0 miles each
way, he was driven in a Government van by Mr.
Faichnie, the EngliQh Superintendent of the Postal
Department, to whom he gave a handsome gold watch.
During his journey he was accompanied by the late
Colonel Charles Chamberlain, a brother of Sir N.
Chamberlain. This was at his special request, for
upon his first arrival at Jumrood he requested that
some relative of his old friend, Neville Chamberlain,
might attend him during his visit to India. At
Umballa he refused to receive a visit from Sir Peter
Lumsden on account of some long-standing enmity
which he, true to the Afghan character, would never
forget or forgive." . .

LORD BEACONSFIELD AND ,THE
AFGHAN COMMITTEE.
At a meeting a the Executive Committee, which was
held in London on Tuesday at the 'Westminster Palace
Hotel, Lord Lawrence, chairman of the Committee, made
the following statement V
•
Gentlemen beg to read to you my letter to the Prime
Minister, asking him to rec:ive a deputation from this Com-
mittee, and his reply, which, I only received a couple of
hours ago. I think it would be well that we publWie i these
letters in extenso, leaving the public to judge the merits
of the case. My letter is as follows :
"Stonehouse, St. Peter's, Isle of Tbanet, Nov. 16.
"My Lord,—A number ot gentlemen of influence, among
whom will be found men of both parties in the State, have
formed themselves into a committee, of which I have con-
sented to be chairman; and we ask that you will be good
enough to receive a deputation from our body on the earliest
date convenient to your lordship. be;rging that it may not be
later than Wednesday next, the 20th inst.
"Our object is to endeavour to induce you to send out in-
structions to India by telegram forbidding the commence-
ment of war with the Arneer of Cabul for the present, and
until specific instructions are received from England.
"We further desire to urge on your lordship the propriety
of at once publishing all the papers, official or otherwise,
connected with the relations of the Government of India
with the Arneer of Cabul since the let of April, 1876, down
to the latest date, as well as those which relate to the Central
Asian question.
"We further desire to urge on your lordship the advise
bility of assembling Parliament by as early a date as may
be practicable, more particularly should your lordship
think tit to delay the -publication of the papers above al-
luded to.
"I request that your lordship will Issue instructions that
the answer to this letter may be addressed to me, care of the
Secretary of Afghan Committee, Westminster Palace HoteL
—Your most obedient servant, " L AWRENCE.
"The Right Hon. the Earl of Beaconsfield, E.G."

The following is the answer returned by the Prime
Minister :

"10, Downicg-street, Nov. 19, 1878.

"My Lord,—l halm the honour to acknowledge the re-
ceipt of your lordship's letter of the 16th inst., which I
received late yesterday, on my return to town.

"The opinions indicated therein as to the policy which
ought in the present crisis to be pursued by Her Govern-
ment at home and in India will not fail to receive the
attention of the Cabinet; but I confess I am at a loss to
perceive what useful purp,lse would be served by a more
extended expression of those opinions from a deputation,
especially as the Government and the country have already
so frequently and so recently had the advantage of copious
explanations of them both from your lordship and others
who act with you.

"With regard to the assembling of Parliament, Her
Majesty's Government will, as a matter of course, be pre-
pared, in the event of hostilities being commenced in India,
to advise Her 314jesty to make such communication to Parlia-
ment as the letter and spirit of the Act of 1858 would seem
to require. This would appear to be a not leas sathfactory
and scarcely less constitutional mode of meeting the
occasion than a process of memorials and deputatims.

'The papers connected with the present aspect of affairs
In the north-west of India, commencing not with date of the
let of April, 1876, mentioned by your lordship, but at a much
earlier period, have been for some time in preparation.
They are voluminous, and this circumstance alone has de-
layed the publication ; but I am assured that they will be in
the hands of members of the Legislature before the end of
the month.

"I have the honour to remain, my Lord, your lordship's
faithful servant, " BEACO.NSFIELD..

"The Right Hon. the Lord Lawrence, G.C.8."

After having read the above letters, Lord Lawrence pro-
ceeded to remark that it appeared to him that theDovernment
of India wanted to tight first, and then to show cause why they
had done so, and so far as they knew the Ministry backed
them in this action. There was one good thing, however, in
the Prime Minister's letter, and that was the hope that
all the papers on the subject would be published
by the end of the month; and so far as I am con-
cerned (Lord Lawrence said) "there is no one transaction
which has passed between the Afghan Government and my-
self in former days that I am not willing should be made
known through the length and breadth of the land." Re-
ferring to the statement made in Sir Bartle Frere's memo-
randum written in 1874 and recently published, that Share
Ali was anxious when he met Lord Mayo that the Viceroy
should appoint as his permanent representative in Afghanistan
some officer with whom the Ameer could unreservedly com-
municate, Lord Lawrence read a note which he had received
from Mr. Seton-Karr, a staunch Conservative, who was
Foreign Secretary to the Government of India in
1889, and was with Lord Mayo at lUmballa during
the whole interview with Ameer Shore All. Mr.
Seton-Karr says that Sir Bartle Frere must have been mis-
informed. The subject of appointing an English resident,
was broached, but b. th the Ameer and his Minister stated
that they could not accede to the step. It would be viewed
with suspicion, they said, hy a strong party at Cabul ;
and if a, ything happened to the Resident the Ameer
would be blamed The Ameer added that, personally,
he might have no s' rong objections to a Resident, but
his chiefs and nobles would resent the presence of an
Englishman; but Mr Seton-Karr believes that this was said
merely to soften down the refusal, and from the Ameer's
manner he judged that he disliked the idea as much as any
one. Mr. Seton•Karr states that he was the bearer of every
confidential communication, written or oral, to the Ameer
and his Minister, and that Lord Mayo never saw the Ameer
on business except when he was present.
At the close of Lord Lawrence's address a resolution was
adoptcd expressing regret that the Prime Miuisier had de-
clined to receive the proposed deputation, and emphatically
condemning his apparent determination rot to advise her
Majesty to consult Parliament until hostilities have been
commenced; and the Committee adjourned until Friday.