Daily Los Angeles herald., 1878-11-23

indictment of the frontier policy O
Gladstone and an admission apt
defense ofthe policy of the present
government. 1t says the consis.
tent aim OF the British Government
during a series of years has been to
establish on its north western border
strong, friendly and independent
State, with interests in unison with
those OF the Indian Government,
and ready to act in certain eventu.
ailties as an auxiliary in the prose.
cutlon OF the frontier from
foreign intrigue and aggression.
IL was considered that the objects
OF the British Government would
be best obtained by winning the
friendship and alliance of Shere Ali
and his people by friendly recogni-
ton OF the existing order of things
and the policy of non-interference
Ihe ontposts of Russia were then
distant from the border of Afghan
istan, and his lordship's Govern
ment attached no special import
ance to the PROBABILITY and danger
OF the growth of the former power
in the direction of India, which
they considered would, in
any case, best be re-
strained or rendered innocuous
by q friendly understanding on the
subject between the English and
Kusslan Cabinets; and, early in
1869, friendly negotiations were in
itiated at st. Petersburg which
terminated in very distinct un-
derstanding, and in the recognition
by the Czar's Government of the
limits of the Ameers territories in
complete accord with the wishes of
Shere Ali and the British Govern.
ment. The capture of Khiva by
the forces of the Gear in the Spring
OF 1878, and the total subordination
OF that Khonate to Russia, caused
Shere Ali considerable alarm and
led him to question the value
OF the pledges with refer
ence to Afghauistuu, which
had been given by the Gar to Eng
land and communicated by Eng
land to the Ameer. Lord North
brook was prepared to assure the
Ameer that, under certain condi-
tions, the Government of India
would assist him to repel the un-
provoked aggression, but her
Majesty's Government at home
did not share his High
ness's apprehensions, and the
Viceroy ultimately informed the
Ameer that discussion of the ques-
ton would be best postponed to a
more convenient season. The effect
of this announcement on his High
ness, although conveyed in con-
ciiiatory language, was not favora-
bic. The policy which dictated 1t
was upintelligible to his mind, and
he received it with feel
ings Of chagrin and disap-
pointment. His reply was
couched in terms of ill-disguised
sarcasm. He took no notice of the
Viceroy. The proposal was to de-
pute British officer to examine
the northern frontier of Afghanis.
tan. He subsequently refused per-
mission TO Sir Douglas Forsythe to
return from Kashgor to India
through Cabul. He left untouched
q gift of money lodged to his
credit by the Indian Government,
and generally assumed towards it
an attitude of solemn reserve. Such
was the condition of affairs when
Her Majesty's present advisors
assumed office. The maintenance
of Afghanistan as strong friendly
Power has at all times been an OBJ
ject of British policy. The method
adopted in attaining that object
had not met with the success that
was desirable. It's accomplishment
was nevertheless a matter 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 Indifference the
probable influence of those
eyents upon the character
of an Asiatio Prince,
whose dominions were thereby
brought within a steadily narrow.
ing circle between two great mill
tary empires, and although no i'm
mediate damage appeared to-
threaten, British interests on the
frontier Of Afghsnistan become
sufficiently grave to suggest the
necessity of timely precautior.
Her Majesty's Government con-
sidered that the first step
necessary was an improvement
on their relations with the Ameer
himself. Consequently, when Lord
Lytton was sent to India, he was
instructed to offer the Ameer the
protection he had solicited, name
ly, substantial pecuniary aid,
recognition of his Dynasty and
a pledge Of mutual sup
port against unprovoked for
eigu aggression, conditionally
upon the Ameer's allowing British
agents to have access to positions
in his territory, except Cabul,
where they could acquire trustwor-
thy Intelligence of events likely to
threaten the tranquility and inde-
pendence of Afghanistan. Such
access was necessary as substan-
tiaI proof of the unity of the
Ameels interests with those of
Great Britain. The abortive end
ing of the mission of Colonel Sir
Lewis Pelly is then mar
rated and the facts are
brought out that the offers to the
Ameer were exceedingly liberal
and the demands on him not OPP
presslve, but he met both by the
rehearsal of grievances dating from
1872, and though the negotiations
at Peshawur were terminated by
the death of tho AmeeI's enemy, yet
Sheer Airs language and conduct
have been so inimlcal as to justify
Lord Lytton in assuming that his
overtures were practically rejected
NegosiatiOns Fasien Through.
LONDON, Nov. 22.-Negotiations
between Austria and the Porte for
the joint occupation of Novi Bazaar
have fallen through.