, 1879-06-08
The Anglo-Atghan Treaty..:Ad-
vai1tages Gained by Great
=; Britain. =:
Unsatisfactory Results of the Zulu
War--Its Cost So, 600, ,000
Week!
Tho Iew Sovereign of,lDulgaria..-H Hedging BY the
Sultan~-Heayy Deficits in Indian
Governmental FiRances.
Observation-Disclosures.

N~AAA>@~N A~~s
i: london 7xnaes, Aay rs. :.
The bases Of peace with the Aneer Yakoob
Khan have been practically agreed upon, and in
the course OF the next few days We shall, in all
probability, hear that the treaty itself has been
signed. The terms submitted to the Ameer
have been framed with the greatest modera-
ton, and due care has been taken not to iln-
peril the stability OF Yakoob Khan's position BY
demands which might excite tile indignation Ut
his everjealous subjects. In point OF fact, not
an acre Of Afghan soil Is annexed by Grea:
Britain, not rupee is demanded as d war in
demnity. We content ourselves with taking
permanent possession Of the khyber and Michni
Passes; which run. through territory belonging
to independent tribes, who have never owed al
leglance to the Durani monarchs. By treating
the Kuram, Sibi, and Peshiu Valleys as assigned
districts, the administration Of which will
be carried on by us, all surplus rev.
enues being handed over to the Ameer,
we shall possess the right to locate troops At
such points in these valleys as we may deetn
necessary for the protection Of common inter-
ests,' and we shall also be justified in open
ing up military highways to the extreme limits
of the assigned districts In bis foreign reid
tons, and in the conduct OF affairs with the tn-
termediate tribes, the Ameer will act in subor-
dination to the British Government; and to aid
him Ia such matters, 4 Resident will forthwith
be appointed to the Court OF Capul, whose Dust
will be in the Ameer's' Capital. The treaty will
also rive us the right to place British Residents
at Herat, Candahar. and other cities in Afghan
istan; but at present it is not Judged necessary
or expedent to avail ourselves Of this clause.
Conlm upications to Peshin will be maintained
not only from Quetta by way Of the old Bolan
the Thall- Chotiali Pass. In return for: these
concessions, which after all have been fairly won
at the point Of the sword, we shall guarantee 70
the Ameer subsidy OF about e12o,o00 per an
mum, contingent, Of course, on bis carrying out
the treaty with faithful exactstude.
As NC have repeatedly urged, the question Of
a rectitication OF our frontier Is question which
cannot be- settled o1fhand, With mere regard
to the strategic aspect OF the case, looking only
to the remote contingency OF an INVASION OF
Hindostan BY some mighty Power in the North
west. The independent border tribes who peo-
Dle the mountainous tract between OUT present
frontier posts und A1ghonistan constitute
most important factor in the case. Moreover,
conmmercial considerations cannot be lost sight
of. The trade of Central Asia is fast passing
awav from our hands, owing to the difficulties
experienced by the Pov1udan merchants in ira
ycrsing the dangerous passes in the Suliman
Mountaius. In laying down the new frontier
line tie Government have fully considered all
these points. Discussing the strategic aues-
ton first, We find that they have resolved to
occupy in force the Pcshin Valley, which
high military authorities concur In de-
ciarng to be emiuent]y suited in every
way for defensive position. It Is no secret
that that gallant and able soldier, Gen. Don
aid Stewart, expressed himself most forcibly
against the retention Ut Candahar, which Is
avowed to be strategieally faulty position,
and one which could not be placed in q thor
ough state OF defense without q vast expendi-
turc OF labor and money. Girishk, too, pre-
sents many disadvantages; indeed, competent
modern authorities who have studied the coun-
try with yicw. to future contingencies aver
that, after once having passed the knojak Pass,
| it is doubtful whether q, really good site Tor
l"Bririsb advanced post would be- fol1hd short OF
| Herat. The Peshin :, alley is an open, richly
cultivated, welwatered district. 1t is the gran
ary as wei! as the grazing-sround OF the sur
rounding country, and IS well capable OF SUD
| porting q large force. There are many sites in
| the valley admirably adapted for the coustruc-
| ton of q cantonmvnt, and it is connected with
1udia by two wel-known roads, the Bolan
road it is In close communication with tue
| Indus Valley Railway, aud 50 with tile sea at
| kurrachec; and BY the latter it is connected
with the garrlsons OF the Pun!ab and the arsenal
OF Fcrozepore. The Belooch tribes on bott
these routes have, on tue whole. shown them
selves favorably disposed towards us; and nc
difficulty on this score need be anticipated. Ths
occupation Of The kuram Valley is but the re
ment q quarter OF a century ago BY that abl'
| frontier administrator, Sir Herbert Edwardes
! who propouuued scheme very similar to tha
now in course Of adoption. The advantages o
holding this and the adjoining Harinb Valley
west Of the Peiwar, are obvious. Not only doe
| It. place our troops within seventy miles 0
| Cabul, thus lending the Ameer the moral sup
port Of British bayonets, but it gives us al
| immense power over the wild tribes O
the Suiman Mountains, whose trout a
well as hank VT now dominate. VIII
q strong force located in kuram an
| Ali-khel, Manyals aud Jadrans, Khostwals ane
Vazris, Afridis and Orakzais lie completely a
our mercy. The occupation Of the khybe
Pass has been decided bn, not merely with
view OF holding the detile in anticipation OF In
yasion, but also for The purpose Of setting a
rest once and forever the much.vexed questio
as to tile sovereignty Of the Afridis an
a1honands, who claim the lands through Nbic
equally With the ViceroY of India. has bee
compelled to purchase passage through thl
| far-famed pass. Nadir Shah himself submitte
| to blacktnail and Sir Samuel Browne wa
forced to buy the alliance Of its owners
| Now all this will be changed. Tie Khyber
! British territory; and the Michni Pass, whic
runs from Lalpoora, on the Cabnl River, to tn
| Brj,ish outpost Of 5lichni, shares the same fatt
| The reason for the occupation OF this doubl
road is obvious, the former runs throug
| AfriGi, the latter through Moh1nand TERRITORY
aud 1t is well to possess free access to the hlll
| OF either tribe. .-.
Turning to the commercial aspect OF the que:
| ton, We have every reason TO nope that III
alontion Of the new frontier line will have
very beneficial effect on the now dropping trad
between Hindos.an and Central Asia. Hithe1
| to caravans of traders have passed throueh Ii th
Ehyber, tile Gomal, or the :Bolan Pas6., In III
t1rst, they have been subject TO the exactions
| Afridi toll-collectors directly they had LETT IN
Ameer's fort OF Daka behind Them: IN the se'
s,1SJ11 han rFxvarA mo