The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1881-08-06 00:00:00

Eke toutilage eitsertler.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6th, 1881.

AFGHANISTAN.

As regularly as the Parliamentary Session draws
to a close, the affairs of Afghanistan force them-
selves upon the attention of our legislators.
This is the fourth year in succession In which
this has been the case. In 1878 the arrival of
the Russian Embassy at. Cabal aroused the
anxious attention of Parliament and the country;
and no sooner had the prorogation taken place
than preparations were made for Sir Neville
Chamberlain's mission, the turning back of
which, upon the frontier, led to the evasion of
Afghanistan and the flight and death of Shere
All. At the close of the Session of 1879 the
conclusion of a treaty with Afghanistan wab
announced, as well as the despatch of a British
Embassy to Cabul ; but immediately at the
beginning ot the recess, on the 3rd September,
the massacre in the Afghan calAtal took place,
which resulted in the advance of General
Roberts to Cabul, and the reduction of the
country for a time to peace. Last year, just be-
fore Parliament rose, came serious news of a
British defeat at thg hands of an overwhelmingly
superior Afghan force, followed by the famous
march of General Roberts from Cabal to
Candahar. Now has come the intelligence of
the fighting between Ayoub Khan and Abdul
Rahman' with possibly another autumn of
anarchy for that long-unsettled land.

Now that this situation has arisen in Afghan-
istan there is nothing to do but to make the best
of it. No good purpose will be served by a
revival of the old controversy on this subject,
or by an interchange of recrimination thereupon.
The facts are to be dealt with as they stand, and
there is no doubt that they have developed new
difficulties and fresh anxieties. No politician of
any prudence or foresight can deny thut the
position is one of greater gravity as a con-
sequence of the recent military operations. If
Abdul Rahman had defeated Ayoub Khan, our
future neighbour at Candahar would at least
have been a ruler whom, if we could not un-
reservedly trust, we should have had no specific
reason to suspect. As our nominee he might
probably have acquired a certain amount of
respect for our power ; while as our pensioner
he would doubtless have been animated by that
appreciation of favours to come which in the
east even more than in the west is the most
trustworthy form of gratitude. In the case of
Ayoub, however, both these conditions are
reversed. He was as nothing; indeed, he may
reasonably be supposed to detest us ; and
though he has no doubt good reason to respect
our power he may well be of opinion that he has
given us reason for respecting him. The fortune
of war went against him at oar last encounter,
and that he meditates any immediate renewal of
hostilities against us is not likely ; at the same
time he has more reason than any other Afghan
Sirdar to cherish hostile designs against us. He
possesses the stimulus of hatred ; he has
had the encouragement of success ; and to this
extent, therefore, he must obviously be mort
accessible than his rival to the approaches of
any great European Power which may seek to
use him as an instrument of attack on our Indian
Empire.
Amid such considerations there is this, how-
ever, to be said, that the way of approach to an
Afghan chief is well-known, and that it is as
open to ourselves as to any of our competitors
for Asiatic dominion. Ayoub is not likely to
play an active part in any aggressive enterprise
against us unless it is, familiarly speaking, made
worth his while ; and we of course ean
in the same way make it worth his while
to be of good behavour towards us. We
have tried the policy of spbsidising Abdul
:Liebman: and there are many who are now
advocating the same course towards Ayoub.
It is unfortunate to have selected the wrong
wan, but that is only a reason for being a little
more careful in our choice next time, and some-
what less precipitate in parting with our money.
All that we want is a friendly united and
independent Afghanistan. If Ayoub shows him-
self to be really capable of consolidating his
power in Afghanistan, it will possibly be our
wisest policy to.restore the relations which sub-
sisted for so many years between the Govern-
ment of India and Shere Ali ; and while keep-
ing a more watchful eye upon him than we din
upon the late Aweer, to supply him with those
solid reasons for cultivating a good understand-
ing with us, to which his race and nation haw
shown themselves at all times accessible.

TRADE SUMMARRY.
THE ROME IRON AND COAL TRADE.

EXCEPTING a passing lull on account of the holi-
day at the lefOing of this week, the English iron
market has been fairly active. The quietness has
made itself felt most in the pig iron trade. At Mid-
dtesbrough last Tuesday a less cheerful tone pre-
vailed, and Glasgow warrants have also b(en
quieter during the week, values being lower in both
markets than during the preceding week, heavy
stocks preventing improvement. The hematite pig.
iron trade of West Cumberland and North Lanca-
shire continue 4 steady, the demand being very fair,
an advance in rates being even obtained on some
sales The enquiry for pig-iron is better in North
Staffordshire and Easf. Worcestershire, and is well
maintained at Liverp,ol and in Durham. The ex-
pot., trade dour at the Tyne imparts a healthy tote
to the market there. L .ncashire is quiet. The
prospects of the finished iron trade have not im-
proved during the week, but the market presort',
its healthy tone. Th's is esp cially true of the best
'Yorkshire iron tr .de, btu-, manufactured ironwo-ks
are well employed also in in other districts. The
Sheffield iron market is steady: Birminghltu h.is
been less animated. The demind in the steel trade
is very active, and makers are fully eniage,i. Ship
hullers continue brisk, and new orders have been
booked, so thal a good winter is being looked for
ward to. Engineers an.l irconfoun.,i,ss are likewist
busy. In Wake and on the Tysie the rteam-coa.
trade continues good ; snore is also doing ha the
For. at of Dean and in Scotland, white toe e.
market of Durham is steals'. Y,rkshire and Lancia-
-8 hire remain quiet, Manchester firms Is iving, found
it necessary to reduce their price list by 10.1 pur
ton. The L'indon coal market is firm at last quota-
tiol,s.

, Iron.