Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-22
OLD WORLD TIDINGS.
BRITISH ADVANCE ON AFGHAN
ISTAN.'
England's Indian Policy-An Indictment
of Gladstones's Administration,
and Defense Of Bea-
consfeld's.

LONDON. November 2l.-The dispatch
published by the government from Lord
Cranbrock, Secretary OF State for India,
to Lord Lytton is an indictment OF the
frontier policy Of Gladstone's admins
tration and defence OF the policy OF the
present government. 1t says: Inc
consistent aim OF the British govern
ment during series OF years has been
TO establish on its northwestern border
a strong friendly and independent state,
with interests in unison with
those OF the Indian government,
and ready to act in certain eventualitles
as an auxiliary in the protection OF the
frontier from foreign intrigue or aggres-
sion. 1t was considered that the OBJ
jects OF the British government would
he obtained by winning the friendship
and alliance OF Shere Ali and his people,
by friendly recognition OF the existing
order Of things and the policy OF non
interference. The out-posts OF Russia
were then distant from the Dor
ders ui Aighanistan, and hls
lordships government attached no
special Importance tn the probablllty
and danger OF the growth of the former
power in the direction OF India, which
thev considered would in any case best
be restrained and rendered inn"cuous
bv a friendly understanding on the
subject between the English and Rus
sian Cabinets, and early in 1869 friendly
negotiations were initiated at St Peters
burg. which terminated in very dis
tinct understanding, and in the recog-
milton by the the Cars government
of the limits of the Ameer's territories
in complete accord with the wishes OF
Sherc Ali and the British government:
The capture OF khiva by the forces OF
the Gar in the spring OF 1873, and the
total subor,lination OF that hhanate
to Russia CAUSED Shcrc All
considerable alarm. and led him to
question the value OF the pledges
with reference to AfghanlStan which
has been given by the Car to England
and communicated by England to the
Ameer. Lord Northbrook was prepared
to assure the Amcer that under certain
conditions the Government oi lndla
would assist him to rcpel the unpro-
voked aggression. but her Majesty :
Government at home did not share his
highncss, apprehension, and the Vice
.rov ultimately informed the Ameer
that the discussion Of the ques-
tion would be best postponed
to more convenient season.
The effect OF this announcement on hls
-highncsS, although conveyed IN concllI-
atorv language was not favorable. Ihe
policy which dictated it was uninteill-
giblc to his mind, and he received 1t
with feelings of chagrin and disappoint-
ment. His reply was couched in terms
III i'll disguised sarcasm. He took no
notice oi the NicerOy'S proposal Ia de-
pute a British officer To- examine the
Northern frontier OF Afghanstan. He
subsequently refused permission to sir
Douglas Forsyth to return from kaShgar
to India through Cabul. He lett UNI
touched gift of money lodged to his
credit bv the Indian government and
generally assumed toward 1t an attI-
tllde OF sullen reserve. such was the
position of affairs when Her MaJestys
present advisors assumed office. The
maintencc of Afghanistan u strong
friendly power had at all times. been
the object oi British policy. The method
adopted in attaining that object had
not met with success that was desirable
Its accomplishment was nevertheless
Il matter OF grave Importance and
it had now to be consider
ed with reference 10 the rapid
march OF events in TurkeStan.
Her Majesty's government could
not view with Indifference the probable
influence of those events upon the char
acter oi an Asiatic prince whose domin-
ions were thereby brought within a
steadily narrowing circle between two
great military empires, and although no
immediate damage appeared tn threaten
the British interests on the frontier OF
Afghanistan, the situation in Central
Asia had become sufficiently grave 10
suggest the necessity ol timely prccau-
tion. Her Majesty's government con-
sidered that the first step necessary was
the improvement oi their relations
with the Ameer himself. Consequently
when Loid Lytton was sent to India he
WAS instructed Ia offer the Amcer the
protection he previously solicited, name
ly, substantial pccuniary aid. the rec
ignition oi his dynasty, and the pledge
of material support against unproVok-
ed foreign aggression, condltlonalIy
upon the .Ameer allowing the British
agents to have access Ia positions IN his
territory except Cahul, where they
could acquire trustworthy intclll'
gcnrr Of events likely to threaten
the tranquility and independence OF
Aighanistan. Such access was neres-
sarv rs substantial proof Of the unity
uf the Amecis interests with those oi
Great Britain. The abcrtive ending Ot
the mission oi Col. Sir Lewis Pelly l.
then narrated. and the facts are brought
out that the offers 10 the Amcer were
exceedingly liberal. and the demands
upon him not oppressive. But he met
both hv rehearsal of grievances dating
irum 1872. and though the negotiations
at Peshawur were terminated by the
death OF the Amcer's envoy, yet >here
Ais Language and conduct had been
So inimical a. to justify Lorl Lytton in
assuming that his OrertureS were prac,
ticallv rejected The Amcer persisted
in his uniriendly isolation, and
ultimately, having two years ago de-
clined tn receive the British envoy
even temporarily. within his territory
on the ground that he c"uidnot guaran'
tee his safety. and would not thereafter
be LEFT with any excuse for declining e
receive the Russian mission. lie
welcomed with every appearance Of o.
tcntation. an embassy from the Gar
dispatched tu his court at a time wher
there were Indications that an interrup
ton ui friendly relations between TIN
country and Russia might be imminent
Under these circumstance, Your Excel
cellency represented to Her Majesty
government that policy in action eoul'
no longer be persisted in. and that thu
Amecr's reception of the Russian mis-
sion at such time and under such elr
cumstances left him no further exCus'
ior declining to receive al his capital TN
envoy from the British government
Your Eqcellencv proposed, therefore, 4
demand the reception OF mission Z
Cabul, headed by an officer oi rank II
the person OF General Sir Neville Cham
bers, whose name and family are held II
| high esteem by the Ameer.