Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1857-01-09

war IN Persia between parties Of whom
the people of this country know little an,
care little, and originating in causes whicl
they cannot easily understand can hardly b,
expected to excite much attention among oui
readers-at least not till the operations con.
nccted Herewith have spread out on a scale
of great magnitude. We take few para.
graphs below from an article on the subject
in the Boston Atlas.
One thing about it has strange l)ok, ac-
cording to our American way of managing
public affairs.
The war is not declared it seems, by the
British government proper but by the
Governor General of India
con the 2ith of October Ilcrat fell. and ON
November l,t war was declared by Great
Britain against Persia, by Il proclamation Of
the Governor General of India at Calcutta.
\ few days later fleet sailed from Bombay
up the Persian Gulf, and has landed COCO
British troops, under the command Of Sir
James Outram, at the little seaport Of Bu-
shire. The causes Of war, as alleged are the
breach Of certain articles of agreement CON
cluied between the official agents Of Great
Britain and Persia in January. l-i& hv
which the Shah engaged on ~ account To-
send troops to llcrat unless that city should
be occupied by a foreign force, and pledged
himself that even then they should not IA s.
the walls also to abstain from all interior
cnce whatsoever in the internal affairs Of
ll"rat.
According to the proclamation, it was
agreed that, if any foreign power, such a.
the Ai,hans or other, should wish t. inter
tere with, or take possession Of licrtt, the
British government, on the rcquisitlon Of the
Persian Ministers, could not obi 'ct To res
tram such foreign power by friendly advice.
~ 50 that llerat might remain III is own
state of Independence.
These conditiOns it j. affirmed have been
violated by Persia, which has not only as
sumed the right to nominate the ruler Of
Herat, but has declared that city t. Stand on
Persian soil, and has accordingly land sic.c
10 1t.
In Ahghanistan there are three principal
lndcEendencics, llcrat, Cahul, and Kandahar.
The city bearing the former name contains
about 10000 inhabitants, lies in a fertile
valley, and is Of commercial importance.
Previously to l7l5 it belonged to Persia. In
that year it was taken by the Af.haus It
was reGained in 1871, but lost again in l74G.
In lS1j, Dost Mahommcd Khan, the ia
nous chief Of Cabool, took possession Of
kandahar, encouraged 10y the treaty Of
Peshawcr, which he concluded with England
on March Goth, 1853, and by which all his
possessions were guaranteed to him by that
power, He then advanced on lIcrat
Persia assumed that her frontier was
threatened by the movements of Dust Ma
hommcd, and that her Interference was JUS
tlilable under the treaty Of 1853. Sh9 ac-
cordngly marched that army into Afghan
lstan, before which lIerat has fallen,
1t is impossible to unravel the mesh Of
diplomatic negotiation and instiglti0n which
has accompanied all these movements in the
Fast. Russian and French influences cntan-
gle Themselves in an intricate skcn with
those of England throughout all There are
few and imperfect sources Of information as
10 the play upon the stage, and even fewer
and more vague concerning the transactions
behind the scenes. -
The London Times of Dee. 18th, near the
conclusion Of an article on the proclamation
of the Governor General, remarks -
"Of course there arc people who think it very
disoyal not To back up British cannon and hayoncts
wherever they may be carried, and We shall be-
thought very mischieyous in hazariing doubt as
to the necessity Of the expedition but We bee
most respectfully to decline the honor of a loyalty
and patriotism uucuuncctcd with either the
rational faculties the moral instincts, that they
must be forthcoming at every demand, without
preparation, notice. or even the possibility Of kupwi
edge. We say it deliberately, that the face Of
the proclamation before Us, England docs not knuw
what she is fighting for. We going to max,
war, we neither know Why nor venture to pretend
Why"