The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-05-07
The Russian Expedition Against
tShiva-The Khan's Offer OF Uncon-

| Fxhiva-The Khan's Offer OF Uncon-
ditional Surrender.
4 We print this morning cable despatch,
| special to tho HERALD, dated st. Petersburg
May 6, to tho effect that the Khan OF Khiva
has repented himself and adopted course of
| nolicv which is intended to conciliate Russia
and to lead to the recall of the expedition.
The Khan, it seems has sent commissioners
to the Russian military expeditionary Fort
No. /, situated at the mouth of the Jaxartes,
with instructions to accept whatever terms
the Russian Commander-in-Chief, General
Kaufman, may prescribe General Kauf-
mann had not seen the Khivan Commissioners;
and the explanation is that the Russian
advance corps and the Central Asian ENJOYS
had not travelled ON the same route.
Such being the case, no change has
as yet taken place in the policy Of
the Russian government despite the fact that
the Central Asian magnate has made an offer
of unconditional surrender. The Khan seems
disposed to give the Russians ample guarantees
for the future good behavior of the Khergize
population. This new policy of the Khan is
supposed to be suggested or dictated by Eng
land. In addition to the proposal to accept what
terms Russia might be pleased to dictate, the
Khan has liberated and forwarded to Fort No
l twenty-one Russians who have for some time
been held in his dominions as slaves. These
liberated slaves have given bad account OF
the treatment which they received while
held in bondage in the Khivan territory. It
4 .e o%o%.~ <>f fho rr11o Cf
Khiva and it is reasonable to presume that it
| is the expectation also of those who have ad-
vised him, that Russia will accept the offered
| terms and recall the expedition. 1t is pos
sible, however, that both the Khan and his
advisers have counted without their host, and
that the Gar, knowing that his advance guard
must now be at the gates Of Khiva, and believ-
ing that many Of his subjects are still held
in bondage in that country, may continue the
| fight to the bitter end
| Our news, therefore, important as it is,
leaves the situation very much as it was. 1t
is quite possible that by this time General
Kaufman has heard of the proposals of the
Khivan ruler and that he has halted in his
march. 1t is even possible that he has been
| able by this time to correspond with the repre-
sentatives of the Gar at Fort No. l, and SO
to commence peace negotiations. BY the end
of May our despatch suggests, the expedition
against Khiva may be ended. By the end of
| May, on the other hand, with all the light we
have now before us, it is just as possible that
Khiva may be invaded and SO overrun that her
final annexation to the dominions of the Gear
may be considered certain. Our despatch, it
must be remembered, comes direct from st.
Petersburg. At the Russian capital yesterday
no change was known to have taken place in
the Imperial policy, yet it is said
to have been possible for General
Kaufman to have been in possession
of tie news brought to Fort No. and thence
transmitted to him, by the LIST of May. Much
will depend on the position in which the Rus
sian General finds himself at the time he re-
ceives the news. Much will depend, also, on
his discretion. If he finds it quite as conve-
| nient to advance as to halt we may rest as
| sured he will adopt the former alternative
General Kaufman, by principle as well as by
training, is fierce annexationist. Few men
in Russia at the present time are SO familiar
with the populations of Central Asia as he is,
and perhaps no Russian General of the hour in
his particular command represents SO faith
fully the aggressive sentiments Of the Russian
governing classes. If General Kaufman has
chance to win he is not the man to halt be-
cause of peaceful proposals. He knows, and
knows well, that if he can, with anything like
expedition and without too much loss of life
and treasure, annex Khiva to the dominions of
his master, he will not be blamed for too
much daring, when caution, backed up by
positive instructions, might have justified the
acceptance Of peace proposals. As we have
said, much will depend on his discretion.
Should he in time know, and in time
accept the Khivas proposals, the inevitable
conflict may for little while longer be de-
layed. But it may not for much will de-
pend on the terms on WHICH he insists If he
asks too much, England may object. If he
enters the country and by force seeks posses
sion of more than Khiva is willing to give
up, trouble may arise, compelling England
to put forth her hand. Looking at this ques-
ton from all.points, it is beset with difficult
ties. Immediate peace between Russia and
the tribes of Central Asia is the barest of
possibilities. Permanent peace is out of the
question. And whatever be the result, the
inevitable coming conflict between Russia and
Great Britain for dominion in Asia still lies
clearly visible in the not distant future.
1t is this last which gives interest to this
Asiatic question. With the movements of
troops and with the fate of barbarian tribes in
Central Asia we have but little to do. But
with possible wars between great Powers and
with the possible results of these wars we
cannot afford to be Indifferent. All the world
knows that the British government, spite of