The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-28

Russian Project for Territorial Definition
and Neutrality.
A Royalist RomanoR to Campaign Against
Khiva-Prospects Of Imperial Success and Of
Serious Issues-Grand Duke Michaers
Post in the Caucasian Territory.
TELEGRAM TO THE NEW york HERALD.


Russian trouble in Central Asia is to the effect that
Russia has made proposal establishing neutral
zone and guaranteeing the independence ana neu-
trality OF Afghanistan.
RUSSIAN GRAND DUKE EN- ROUTE TO THE FRONT
His Imperial Highness the Grand Duke Nicholas,
brother ofEis Majesty the Gar is about to proceed
to Jurched, in order to participate in the Khvan
expedition.
THE GRAND DUKE NICHOLAS.
Nicholas, Grand Duke of Russia is in the forty
second year Of his age. He is man OF great expe-
rience in military matters, as also in diplomacy.
He is General of the Russian army, Aide de camp
the Corps of Army Consumption of st. Petersburg.
He is. besides, chief OF regiment OF grenaders.
colonel Of a regiment OF Astrakhan dragons, and,
still more appropriate Just at present, chief OF the
Battalion Of Sappers of the Caucasus. He will, most
likely, in the first instance, take advice with his
brother, the Grand Duke Michael. who is Governor
General OF the Caucasus.
Grand Duke Michael's Position as Seen
by the English I'm st. Petersburg.
st. Petersburg special letter to London, pub
lished in the English capital on the 1st Of January
in the present year. supplies the following inter-
esting facts:-
The question is no longer whether England
shall oppose the progress of Russia in Cen
trail Asia but how England Is to strengthen herself
in the position she already holds, so as to counter
pOise the enormous influence which Russia will
possess when her frontiers have reached their
natural limit. The Khiva question has lately given
rise to much speculation and argument In this d.
rectiOn, and the gradual extinction OF the indepen-
dence of the States that lie In the Russian path
naturally stimulates to serious reflection. The an
nexatiOn of Khiva has not yet been determined In
the Council OF the Grand Duke Michael, the Lieu
tenant of the Caucasian prOvnces-Khiva lying
within his jursdictonstil 1t is probable that the
Khan Will not retain his position much longer, I'M
ess indeed, the Russian government should
prefer to accept HIM as vassal The fact Is, the
great and constantly increasing expense incurred
In the administration OF the newly acquired Aslatic
provinces hangs like dead weight on the Minister
OF Finance. The revenue is very trinlng; and the
cost OF maintaining troops, not only of soldiers
but of officials also in those distant regions to
which few are inclined to go except on very ad-
vantageOus terms, Is q matter Of no small moment
when we consider how for many years Russian
fnanciers have been struggling in vain to make
both ends meet.
The Russian Campaign Against Khiva-
Power and Prospects of the Forces of
the Gar.
Calcutta journal, specializing on the possible
consequences of the Russian movement in Central
Asia, writes as follOws-
The Russian campaign can have but one result
Bokhara must fall, and then Khlva. The remnant
of Khokand left TO Khodayur Khan will, of course,
be absorbed. The Russians will then possess the
vast DOab of the OXus and JaXartes, studded with
cities containing peace-oving population, ready
and willing to welcome their sway. If
the whole population OF the Khanates be-
longed to single tribe, or even to
cognate tribes, the physical features Of
the country would enable them to offer an invinci-
BILE resistance to the invaders. Composed, as il
is, of different races, conserving their own pecu-
ararities with jealous care, the Russians find they
have sny to deal with the dominant tribes Con-
sidering that there is no temptation to convert
Turkistan into another Poland, that the Sarts or
Tadjiks are sure to take advantage of settled
power, and some degree OF settled laws to Develop
their passion for trafcking and for literary pur-
suits, and that the possession Of Khiva and Box
hara by the Russians must OF necessity put stop
to the TurcOman slave trade; considering all these
things, we think Russia may be as fairly coAgratu
lated on her snccess in Central Asia as England on
hers in Central Africa. But cOmpaisance should
stop here England while giving her rival her
fluctuations should draw moral from her own
conduct in Abyssnia and warn Russia against ad-
vanclng toe far-say beyond the line OF the Oxus.