The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1879-10-25
AND RUSSIA
An EARLY War Between These Powers
Predicted.

AMI AN1 =
An EARLY War Between These Power
Predicted.
The London correspondent of th
Neao York Times writes:
met one day this week by appoint
ment an experienced and Travelled dlplo
matist who is peculiarly well posted ii
regard to Indian, Turkish, and AsIati,
affairs. he permitted me to ask som,
questions touching the policy now to b,
carried out In Afghanistan, and th,
probabilities of a war with Russia. Til,
result is both important and interest
ing:
Question. 1t is said Lord Beacons
field was overruled in the cabinet in LII.
desire to occupy Cabhl in force. Car
you tell me il that is SOP Answer. ]
have reason to believe that last winter
the premier wished not only to take
military possession Of Cabul, but Of Her.
at also.
cA ehcmf a. NO. DuL 70
occupy them in force until the country
might be considered settled, SO that the
new ameer should have his authority
established, and in order that Russia,s
move on Merry should be checked by En-
glands presence at Herat.
Q. And the cabinet was against him?
Ayes, several members were, and
Lord Salisbury argued strongly In favor
Of doing nothing that should bear the
slightest resemblance to annexation.
Lord Beacons6eld gave way, but with a
warning prophecy that there was grave
danger in falling back at the moment
they were most capable of going on. In
regard to Cabul he drew the attention
Of his colleagues to the history Of prevl-
Gus pacific missions, and touching Her
at he showed them on q smaller map
than Salisbury's the position Of
Merv and the operations Of Per-
STA in 1888 and in 1856 under Russian
officers; we had to fight Persia In those
days and we did SO with the old result
of victory; but In the future we shall
have to fight Russia and Persia, SO
Beaconsfeid thought 1t a wise forearm
ing to be at Herat first.
@. And what is going to happen.
now that the premier's colleagues are
once more convinced by events that 1t
Is best to lock the stable-door before the
horse is gone? A. This Is going to hap
pen: The cabinet is united now upon a
clear and distinct policy, that is, to
hold Afghanistan-not to annex 1t, but
to hold it-until the ameer can rule it
with something like fair prospects Of
peace; and under any circumstances to
keep all the gates to India In strength
and power against all corners. We shall
occupy Herat.
Q. That is important news; can you
vouch tor the truth Of itp A. Ican to
this extent: I know from a special
private source that orders have gone
out Of London to the viceroy, from the
supreme command in Afghanisan, for
Sir Donald Stewart to move on Herat.
The present idea is to do so in two
columns, one operating from Girishhk,
the other by the Darwaza pass. The
details may be altered, but we shall
march on Herat. sir, ard occupy it at
whatever cost of blood or money; aud
the cabinet is heartily sorry 1t ever
countermanded the advance last year.
Q. Why did they do SOP a. On ac-
count Of the earnest representations Of
Russia that she had no intention to &C.
cupy Merv, and her urgent request that
we would refrain from going to Herat.
Q. Was this conveyed as a threat?
A. No; but underlying the represent
ations was the evident suggestion that
If we went to Herat they wsuld consid-
er themselves at liberty to 60 to Merv.
Q And so diplomacy prompted eau
ton, and the British column on the
way TO Herat was recalledp a.. Ex-
p%ediency suggested caution, not diplo-
macy; that expediency which considers
political parties, which asks what will
the opposition say, what will the papers
say, and which fears to challenge Rus
sia, yet fears to waits until Russia takes
up favorable ground, as we did at Ulun-
di, before we move; you may take that
as a fair smile of last years policy. The
Zulus did not attack us on the march
to Ulundi; they let US cross the river;
they waited until we had taken ground,
waited until we had formed our hollow
square, and got our guns in position;
that is what we have done SO far In
central Asia. We have seen Russia
pressing on; we know that Merv is the
ground she has selected; we know that
1t commands Herat, and that Herat one
day may command India; but we have
held aloof, and should have continued
to do so only for the massacre at
Cabul. Now, however, we have got
our cue to march. The conspiracy In
Afghanistan broke out too oon For
RussIa's purpose 1t should not have
happened until her troops were within
sight Of Merv. We are not to wait any
longer, like the Zulu king, until Russia
has formed her hollow square at Merv,
and put her guns in position: we are of
to Herat. You may take that as a
positive fact.
q. Which may end in a var with
Russian A. In central Asia, yes, q