Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-11-27
WHY ENGLAND GOES TO WAR.

Shere Ali Must Either be Friend or an
Enemy---He Insults Her MAJESTY and
Must Take the Consequences.
The following interesting statement
of the British case was telegraphed from
London, Nov. 22nd: The dispatch pub
lished by the government from Lord
Cranbrook, secretary of state for India,
to Lord Lytton, is an Indictment of the
frontier policy of Gladstone. The ad-
visers Of the present government say
the consistent aim of the British gov
eminent during q series of years has
been to establish on it's northwestern
border a strong friendly and indepen-
dent state, with interests in unison with
those of the Indian government and
ready to act in certain eventualties as
an auxiliary in the protection of
the frontier from foreign intrigue
Or aggression. 1t was considered
that the objects of the British govern
ment would be best obtained by winning
friendship and alliance with Sheere Ali
and his people by friendly recognition
Of the existing order of things, and a
policy Of non-interference with the out
posts of Russia, which were then dis
tant from the borders Of Afghanistan,
and his lordship's government attached
no special importance to the probablli-
ty and danger Of the growth Of the for
mer power in the direction of India,
which they considered could in any
case best be restrained by friendly I'M
Outstanding on the subject between
English and Russian cabinets. Early
in 1869 frierdly negotiations were in
vited at st. Petersburg, which terminal
ed in a very distinct understanding and
recognition, by the czar's government,
of the limits of the ameer's territories,
in complete accord with the wishes Of
Sheere Ali and the British government.
The capture of Khiva by the forces
of the czar in the spring of 1873, and
the total subordination that Kharat
brought to Russia, caused Sheere Ali
considerable alarm, and led him to
question the value of pledges with ref
erence to Afghanistan, which had been
given by the car to England, and COM
municated by England to the ameer.
Lord Northbrook was prepared to as
sure the ameer that under certain con-
ditions the government Of India would
assist him TO repel unprovoked aggres-
sions, but her majesty's government at
home did not share his highness appre-
hension, and the viceroy ultimately in
formed the ameer that the discussion Of
the question would be best postponed
to a more convenient season. The eff
feet of this announcement on his high
ness, although conveyed in conciliatory
language, was not favorable The pol
icy which dictated it was unintelligibie
to his mind, and he received it with
feelings Of chagrin and disappointment.
His reply was cOuched in terms of I'M
disguised sarcasm. He took no notice
of the viceroy's proposal to dispatch a
British officer to examine the northern
frontier of Afghanistan. He subse-
quently refused permission to Sir Doug
las FOrsythe to return from Pashgar to
India through Cabul. He left untouch-
ed gift of money lodged to his credit
by the Indian government, and gener-
ally assumed towards it an attitude of
sullen reserve. Such was the position
of affairs when her majesty's present
advisers assumed office. The mainte-
nance Of Afghanistan as strong friend
had at all times been the object OF the
British policy. The method adopted in
obtaining that object had not met with
the success that was desirable. Its &C
cOmpllshment was neverthelesz a mat
ter Of grave Importance, and It had
now to be considered with reference
to the rapid march of events
in Turkestan. Her majesty's
government could not view with indif-
ference the probable influence Of those
events upon the character of an Asiatic
prince whose dominions were thereby
brought within a steadily-narrowing
circle between two great military en-
pires; and although no immediate dam
age appeared to threaten, British inter
ests on the frontier of Afghanistan and
in central Asia had become suffi-
| GENTLY grave to suggest the necessity
Of timely precaution. Her Majesty
government considered that the first
step necessary was the improvement
Of their relations with ameer himself
Consequently when Lord Lytton was
sent to India he was instructed to offer
the ameer the protection he previously
solicited, namely substantial pecunary
aid, the recognition Of his dynasty and
the pledge of material support against
unprovoked foreign aggression, condi-
tionally, upon the ameer allowing Brit
ish agents to have access to positions
in his territory, except Cabul, where
they could acquire trustworthy intelli-
gence Of the events likely to threaten
the tranquility and independence Of
Afghanistan. Such access was neces
sary as substantial proof of the unity
of the ameer's interest with Great Brit.
| ain. The abortive ending Of the com.
mission of Col. Sir Lewis Pelly, is
then narrated, and the facts
are brought out that the offers to the
ameer were exceedingly liberal and the
| demands upon him not oppressive, but
| he met both by a rehearsal of the
grievances dating from 1872, and though
negotiations at Peshawure were termin
ated by the death Of the ameer's envoy
yet Sheere Ais language and conduct
had been so inimical as to justify LORD
|