The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-05-18
CENTRAL ASIA.


Russian and British Intcrests-The Suez Canal
and n New Route.
lFrom the St. Petersburg Gazette de B0urse April 29
The nearer the works Of the uez canal advance to
completion the greater appears to the English the
necessity OF securing the same object by means OF
shorter route. This could be done only by running
line tnrough Asatic Turkey, which will, in a straight
line and without interruption, connect the Persian
Gulf with Europe The successful advances In Gen.
trail Asia made by Russia have also had their share Of
effect on the determination of the English They
Justly rear Russian influence over the Khanats and
tribes OF central ASIA they understand that the
rapidly the Russians approach the frontiers Of Central
Asia, the more distinctly do the Asatic tribes realize
the significance Of our empire and the more readily
will the latter rely upon 1t, not alone as bulwark to
prevent an invasion Of the English from India but
also to foster an increase of their commercial rea-
lions, which are as profitable to Russia as to Asia.
In contact with the English commercial dependence
Is identical sctth potica, sepitude ach a0negatOa
DolHicdt Independence. This has been and Is still
demonstrated by daily experience The English hare
imposed tributes on al the countries acith ,chich
they hare been able TO establish yeo,tlur communion
ION oy caravans. They have at present reached the
hmlt beyond which they cannot push themselves
without recourse 10 the force Of arms. Afghanstan
is the aim Of all Engands political and commercial
aspirations; she wishes not only to explore that
~
DuiWark against the approaching movements
OF Russia In Central Asia. Although the prox-
unity OF A1ghanistan to India apparently
fayors the devices Of England, her vacllating
policy has planted In almost all the tribes OF Afghan
lstan o profound mistrust of the English OF East
india which paralyzes all their endeavors. But the
English do not lightly give up what they once ac-
knowledge to be a necessity Their aims on Az
ghanisan have Jailed from the southeast; they win
try from the southwest by totally different MEANS
which nave hitherto always been crowned with sue
cess They VIII abandon fOrcible measures and will
turn 10 the slower but surer influence OF civilization.
This is why the indirect Persia, with her extensive
commerce, VIII be placed in a dependence ON Eng
land through her relations with that country which
VIII represent itself to her as producer and con-
sumner; tnen the road through Persia to afghan
lstan the road from East India being
closed, Will be opened to England. Russia
should not suffer England to effect this. She
mas equal, II not stronger, claims on Afghanistan
what prOnts England may be as advantageous to
ourselves. We are not more distant; the means that
England commands we possess also; these means
are trade culture, civilizatOn-rea and powerful
means which we unfortunately have as yet insult
GENTLY employed. Every one who il in any measure
acquainted with our position will agree, without
quiring special proofs, that commercial relations
with Asia are more developed than those of other
States, and these promise to increase In their dimen-
sOns in the futurd. Although the goods we place in
Central Asatc markets are Of very inferior quality
alth r,fvI1 fhov vta in,