The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-09

OUTSIDE OF local quesuOns the Wioe "oui"
over there is perhaps no question which SO
commands the attention of the nations
rs the pending difficulty between Russia
and Great Britain. That it should DC
80 is not by any means wonderful. war
from the point of view of news-readin'
public is always absorbing; possible war
never fails to command attention; but poss-
BILE war between two such Powers as Great
Britain and Russia, especially when the posi-
BILE touches closely on tho probable, is we'll
fitted to inspire alarm Among the so-called
great Powers since the fall of France the
prominent places must be given to the United
States, Germany, Great Britain and Russia.
A conflict between any two of those Powers is
the last thing which, in the interests Of mod
ern civilization, the world demands. Great
Britain and the United States have shown
the nations good exampls; but, in spite
of that example, it is not at all
impossible that the vanity of statesmen and I
an unreasoning popular sentiment may within
few weeks bring abont war quite as gigan-
tic as that which recently delugel the plains
Of France with blood. The Central Asian I
difficulty which now divides Great Britain and
Russia Is much more serious matter than
| some people ara disposed to believe
Up to the date at which we write we have
no intelligence that the difficulty is ended.
| Russia is bent on her purpose and means to
carry it out Great Britain is bent on hers
| and her latest utimatum is mo surrender"
Unless Russia yields on the one hand or Great
Britain gives why on the other tn ,rc is but one
result which can be predicated and that result
is war; Pity it SHOULD be so! The settlement
of the question one way or the other is not
worth the blood of one good man; but ma
tons, like individuals, are often unreasonable,
and so possibilities and probabilities and stub
born facts must be looked in the face. court
of arbitration might easily settle the difficulty;
but court of arbitration no matter how COM
posed and how just its decisions, does not
always satisfy the vanity of statesmen and cool
down popular sentiment; and in the present
case there is but small chance that arbitr alton
will be thought of, and less chance that, if
thought of, it would be approved of by the
one side or the other
The history of this affair shows how great
fire little spark may kindle. The original
cause was certainly comparatively insigni6-
cant The Khan of Khiva captured caravan
containing some forty persons, who claimed
the protection of Russia Russia demanded
their release This the Khan refused, and in
the meantime he sent messengers to the Vice
roy of India, imploring his assistance in the
event of his being attacked by the forces of
tho Gar. Lord Northbrook sent for answer
that he could not and would not interfere in
the matter, advising the Khan to mend his
| ways and make his peace with the Gar on the
best terms possible. It would have been well
for the Khan il he had taken the Viceroy's
advice. In place of doing SO, however, he has
made matters worse by attacking Russian out
posts and treating Russian prisoners with great
barbarity. Russia, in fact, has now no choice
but to put forth her whole strength andpunish
the contumacious Khan. In so advising the
Khan, Lord Northbrook was acting in perfect
harmony with the home government and with
the India Office. It was understood by Lord
Northbrook, and it was the opinion of the
British government and the India Office, that
the boundary question in Central Asia had
been completely settled by Mr.. Forsythe's
mission some four years ago. Mr.. Forsythe
saw the Gar and Prince Gortschakoff; opinions
were freely exchanged, and, although the re-
suit was not officially made public, it is well
known that cordial understanding was come
to, Russia and Great Britain agreeing that
territory of some four hundred miles in
width should be considered neutral ground
between their respective frontiers. It has
since appeared that the lines of the neutral
territory were either imperfectly drawn or i'm
perfectly understood. Hence the altered atti-
tule of the British government. 1t was found
that Russia, in her plans of conquest and an
nexation, was bent on encroaching on the terri
tory of Afghanistan and it has for many
years been the fixed policy of Great Britain to
protect the Ameer in all his rights, and to re-
gard as q cause of war any attack on his terri
tory The ultimatum of Great Britain is
Russia may proceed on her career of conquest
along the ANU and Sir, and SO long as she does
not menace Afghanistan or the Principalities
on the Upper ANU and others situated be-
tween Khiva and Afghanistan, claimed by the
Ameer of the latter country, Great Britain
will not feel bound to interfere. Count
Schouvaloff, q trusted favorite of the Gar,
was despatched to London to explain the
situation and to induce the British govern
ment, if possible, to abandon the ground it
had taken. Count Schouvalofrs mission, it is
now understood, has proved failure, and so,
as we have said above, if Russia will not yield
or Great Britain again bow the knee, war must
be the result It is the feeling in England
and this feeling is shared by the Indian Off
cials-that Russia is again stealing march on
Great Britain, and that she means to use her
,, present opportunity to strengthen her position