The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1873-02-08 00:00:00

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SATURDAY, FEBRUARY S. i 873.

THE KNOT OF THE CENTRAL
AaJAN DIFF‘CULTY.

There is no wonder in ,t the preparation by
Russia of an expedition to chastise or *mum
Kniva, ou a Scale somewnat dispripartionate to
the appexcut object in view, and the enthusiasm
with whi:a ti s p:ojset LIA 3 odea groet,d in the
Russia,' capital, should have excited much atten-
tion both in tam country, and at Constantinople,
and generally io European circles. It is remark-
able that the 1 imes, the Daily Teleyraph, the
Standard, the Daily News, the Mooring Pest,
well as such influential and thoughtful as
journals as the Pall Mall Gazett_ and the.
Spectator, are all unanimously of opinion th it
now, Huainan proceedings must be closely
wateutu, and must even be openly counteracted,
in case of their tenuiug to disturb our tenure of
India, or to clog it for the future with a vastly
increased military expenditure. Of course there
is in this noticing but the most legitimate self-
defence. We have a perfect right to draw a
°mom around our Indian empire, to secure 'he
artreaches to it by alliaeces, or by direct ruild
inc3sur, ;, and to enter into relations for
this purpose with any of the bordering tribes,
or in fact with any other power. It is scarcely
possible to exaggerate the long and chiouie in-
jury RUSSIO auight inflict upon us, were she once
firmly seated in Persia, and had she thus acquired
the ready leverage for disturbing Alighanistan
and India. Thee evidence that has been alleged
by Ariatinius Vambery as to the part Russia took
in stirring tie Lae formidable mutinies in 1857, is
riot calculated to reassure us on this head. Ac-
cordingly it is in Persia that we consider to re-
side the bust of the Central Asian difficulty.
No donut ltuseia could intrigue in Aifghaniatan,
or approach our extreme northerly frontier
through Bokhara and Khokand, without troub-
ling herseif stout Persia. Of coarse these are
dangers to be guarded against. But the rude
tribes of what used to be termed Independent
Tartary are probably destined to pass before long
either under the Russian or the English protec-
torate. If the strategical necessities of our
frontier were first provided for, we might, or
rather we must, acquiesce in this ; at any rate it
could not andnint to a poiitical question of the
first magnitude. But the case is different in
regard to the much more westerly and compar-
atively civilised kiugdoin of Persia, winch has
as much right to be included within tile comity
of nations as Japan or 'Turkey. The question
of the integrity and independence of Persia has
always been viewed by Anglo-Indian statesmen
as of immense idiportauce for the Indian em-
pire. It is probably of equal importance to the
maintenance of 'Turkish power. We feel con-
firmed in tins view by the remarkable Russian
memoranda published in the Standard of Janu-
ary 81st, of weich the first, written by General
Rename!, beau date June 1854, and the other
two were written shortly afterwards. They fur-
nish distinct evidence of Rll3Siall plans and
policy, whica it would be in a high degree un-
wise to (Merino... All three unite in describing
POiSia as a coentry '.vhich must be held under
control cinder by c.)nquost or 'uy strict alliance,
in order to luruien the means of operating
through the Atlghan territory epinst India.
It is from toi3 point Of view that we are con-
strained to lok at the exp iiiou Whieli will
Nohai ly cii.l in the suhjugdrion of Kniva. As
that Khanato borders npu4 Persia, and includes
C I .re psrt of the eiisden totes f tilt! ens-
its c nTiest u ill go uu r to eqnvert that
. . • •!•.sian I,,ke; 0; the wheis

8 by 1..".utt,-, iy; a
of I war,wiUi old 6) years
az.o. And if 'no 1,1111,11 C oorreot that Porsi4
h a 1101 V h al A r i.til.•,tinut and fertile
4..,:0t00 of ,;:h04;;11,W.k lie 3 di.votly south
of I:l,tivn, •11 if t!..4 o ilr, (thAt i. on All-
lt:••11). Vit; f.,ti• Lie,. this 2 BU4 tit,:
co ~ploto ..1 r:in as :1,1 itti,‘ltt:lt•
(Lot 11 i, "„r to to.ty
1,.• a)igh fr 1r e -en e, for th..,t•ral !At-
ha ,1•4 6upi iu his inctnoir tiv.it Russia on ht "to
pro,utse Lho rr.)i 2 ion of it 2 I or.i diittiets
of 13-tt9la Ko si, and Ft p trt ttf
a-,td ihet,;by a war between Persia and

Tarkey.' .t k v3i!.l scarcely aiani:ify the
matte, h ii IVlng /Or I:aglitn,i the.pkasitut
liti coaseluence of eu ti .g iii awl to the ia•
'traction of the Fup r.itoi v.:guy
ought ti 1. •us .. utartey or int r.itottrse
between the Eegt and the West. It is &ear th t
the great : •. is;ttij k 411 h:,lf
apprelie.i lb• ••.:e a:, a. I taut the time his
come when I.lm touvo on our part, or still
moru, an in ictisuty which Ilea quite ceasei to bp
in city respect .‘ inasteriv," may involve us in
• rioas loses. Toe chid question we suppose
is this: W, t a. i s ltt ti I. taken to
prevent Per -I s cot h: • ol a baso of opera-
tions *Jain it u

It may b Lb t• Ofl S lfl.fl are really en-
gagatl in pr..3autione. But
Ih3 overt ac•i .7 f. ''; vale, aa f.tr as
nmlerstand It. yr t (plate.
It may be qu ti ',Mt a,. 1 it' t'l inf3rm
that we sltll nt it.t. eon: wig' her pr.urrese " iii
. . • iA It gout st. p
. menae,
:• r. But it

;
'
th; ;

ho Court of
with s ,
(70:.• state
. ; that our

polictoidu pc 0 , , ',bah. We
wiles *et Austria bee jest despatched, for the

first time, an ambassador to Teheran, a step as
judicious in itself, as it is, for this country, sig-
nificant of the circumstance that England need
never stand alone in contending for the indepen-
lence and integrity of a power like Persia. Is
it too late to extricate that country from the
dangers, whether immediate or remote, that lurk
for her in the Russian alliance, er protectorate?
Could English statesmanshid possibly see its
w y to guaranteeing her a,•tual territories, and
at the same time forbidding her to look for
any compensation for what she weakly ceded, in
the direction of the Euphrates and the expense
of England's ally? If so, it would probably be
the wisest as well as the cheapest way of defend-
ing our Indian heritage. Russia once directly
or indirectly paramount in Persia, will be, we
may be assured, but the beginning of troubles.
It is eminently the interest of this country that
the northern boundaries of Persia should
r ,vain what they now are, namely, the river
Attruck on the north-east, end the Ara xes, which
separates Azerbijan from Russian Armenia, 011
the north-west. However much our influence in
Persia may be for the present in default, the
time may come when we may recover it. And
if Lord Granville appreciates the situation, as
we trust he does, he sill say less about occupy-
ing Quetta (a step which we can take at any
time) but will resolutely enquire' together with
I ord Northbrook, what is the full complement
of strength at which our frontier forces ought
now to be maintained, and whether they are
equipped and armed in the most efficient way.
And the completion of the Indus Valley railroad
seems to be a measure highly desirable for the
security of the frontier. Anyhow the details
of these complex questions must be left to those
practically conversant.with tneir various bear-
ings. What is needed In public opinion is that
it should insist upon our rulera giving due atten-
tion to these growing difficulties, and should
establish at least the general principles of a
defensive policy.
. . . . .

Within tho last day or two there has arrived
in London an article from the official journal cf
St. Petersburgh, denying the rumour about
Khorassan, and denying that "the Persian ques-
tion "is involved in the present discussion. Of
such denials we can only say raleant quantum.
Nothing that Russian journals or diplomatists
say, or do uot say, can diminish the force of such
considerations as we have stated, because they
are based upon the very nature of the case.