The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-24
The Political Settlement
Foreshadowed.
ENGLAND TO HOLD THE PASSES.
Russia to Assume the Protectorate
Over Afghan.
N INTERVIEW WITH THE AMEER.
Interesting Story Of a Natives
Journey to Cabul.


In one of my preceding letters gave q word of
advice 10 the English :-"Ie,ieve me- long as you
have Kaufman for neghbor you will do we'll to
be on your guard / said on another OCCASION
However great the submission of the Governor
General of Iurkestan may be to his sovereign. he
cannot be blamed for entertaining in his innermost
thoughts tho hope--be it chimerical not-that he
will not die before his spurs have jinged over
Indian SOIL. think it well to remind your readers
of the above facts at time when the Afghan
question is the point of taking q new
turn through the mediation which the Ameer
Shere Ali has instructed his ambassadors to propose
to the Emperor Alexander. Such nm intervention
might be looked upon forced arbitration, for up
the present time it Goes not to have met the
approval of the Czlr who hearing Of the arrival
of Shere ALI gave him to understand that it was not
when his country has been invaded by the English
that he should have thought of leaving il to proceed
to st. Petersburg. However quick he might travel
the journey could not be performed under weeks
there and back, leaving out of account tine time
spent the banks Of the Neva AID the delays which
were to be expected from the floods. Shere Ali IN
derstood the argument, but he sent an embassy
which General Kaufman will probably stop on its
way, if such be the Empcror's pleasure which is
moro than probable.
POSSIBILITIES OF THE FUTURE.
ana we. actually ask ourselves what Is to
take place next? This is o question which
put to myself. who am the spot, and in
order to answer it and to enable the reader antic
pate solution shall revert to my first letter. in
which wrote Whatever may happen the Ameer
is doomed beforehand. Afghanstan will have to pay
for Turkey am moro than ever persuaded
that this will come TO pass. II Europe closes her
eyes on the dongs of Russia in Turkey the Afghan
question will be settled by the English and Russians
over the green baize of the diplomatic board. am
inclined to believe in pacific solution in which case
it il probable that England will hold possession
of the passes and fortify tho positions at
Jellalabad and Kandahar. while the Ameer
will help to swell the number Of Oriental soveregns
whom the Russian eagle shelters under her gigantic
wing. Russia will in that extend her protec-
torate to Shere Ali as far as Cabul, and will fortify
herself at Herat, where the elephant will pretend to
sleep by the side of the whale which will keep watch
at Kandahar. And. until further orders, everybody
will rest satisfied. II things take this course bet
ter STILL If the idea of going to be given up the
world will possess excellent touchstone for the
future--the return of General Kaufman to St.
Petersburg. This eminent officer would then look
upon his mission in Asia as terminated, but would
not like to leave his work half done. A successor
would be appointed to continue the civilization Of
the Khirghis. the sarthians. the Bokharians, &c.
THE END FoRKsHADowED. S.
At first sight may appear Of time to dwell so
long on specuatons of this kind in q letter which
will not DO in print before month-that is four
weeks, after the arrival Of the Afghan Embassy at
Tashkcnd. think, on the contrary, that my letter
will be in New York quite soon enough to be useful
to the reader for it likely that matters will not be
brought to very rapid conclusion To the pro-
verbal delays of diplomacy must be added this mate
rial fact that at Tashkcnd it takes month to get
letter from the Ameer. who, in case of an un-
Outstanding being come to, will at least have to
sign his name. If it should so happen that
before then he has not been suppanted by his
son, Yakoob. or somebody else. This signature may
not be given there and then, and will endeavor to
show why. And this will bring me back TO the limits
of pure narrative, which those in which a cor
respondent should contne himself rather than
the field OF dissertation into which Twas accidentally
induced to trespass at the commencement of my
letter. Here, then are few particulars concerning
Shere Ais way of treating business When the
toward the Russians the hostile attitude that we all
remember. General Kautmann, In order to learn
Shere Ali the precise nature OF his sentiments in
gard to Russia sent him emissary bearing a letter
addressed to him in which he made inquiries
ing his health. Emissaries of this Mad are known
in the country by the name Of Tg,tS. They
cavaliers or h0rsemen, who for given sum will
carry letters through districts where postal arrange
mcnts unknown The gigite started on his jour
ney and six months after he had not yet returned
This delay caused a certain anxiety when the pro-
verbal furocity of the Ameer came to be thought of
But i'll Europe events had been progressing and
assuming day by day gloomier aspect. Hence all
tho greater became the necessity of knowing the in
teutious of Sherc Ali. General Kaufman sent him
another gigite, this time with message asking that
he would be pleased to state on what terms he hap
pencd to be then with the English. This second
messenger gave the following of his journey
and of his interview with the Aneer:
THE GIGrrE's NARRATIVE
when, after crossing the Amu-Daria, set foot
on Afghan soil, soldier asked me where was going
told him was pilgrimage, and he allowed mo
to pass When l was hungry. entered a house.
where hospitality WINS freely shown lne, as to ali
good Mohamincians; and when my horse became
haustcd found means TO change HIM for another
In this way arrived at Cabul and alighted ut the
Ameers palace. There only and for the nrst time.
said that was the bearer OK letter IRON the Vice
Emperor of Turkcstan. When tho Amecr admitted
me he was seated in III armchair Behind him was
balcony. beyond which were TO be seen court
yard planted with trees and some stables Shcro
Ali was surrounded by his ministers. who were
seated cushions to his right and left to form
a circle. came forward and presented the letter
Before opening IL the Aineer made inquiries about
General Kaufman. and when had informed him
that he ia perfect health he tore open the
veope read the contents and handed the letter to the
Minister who was seated on his left. The letter
written in the Russian language and accom-
panied by q translation in P rsian' purposely in
icrrupt the ggics narrative to impress this articu-
lar fact upon the attention of the reader which done
will let tho narrator. who speaks the Sarthian,
AT THE AMErns COURT.
when the first Minister had read IL he handed IL
TO HIS left hand ncighbor. and on till II came
tho last. Meanwhile the Amccr asked me how
ana how had performed the journey When the
last Minister had finished reading the letter, he ros
and returning II to Shcrc All said Tho Russians
always speak the truth while the English. on the
contrary, write nothing but les 'Sucn is also my
opinion. added the Amecr. and every Minister
present concurred in IT,"
The Digfe was then dismissed from the Amcer's
presence. His narrative embraced nothing further
OF interest. The next day Sherc All despatched tho
ggte, who had been kept in Cabul for months,
with the answer to the first letter simply
containing inquiries regarding his health:
and as to the state of his relations with the English.
the answer to that letter was supplied six months
later. the second ggts being treated in the way
= the first. And when ut las. the Amecr did reply
about 1t was simply to say that his relations with
the English were the same as formerly" There
was solid ground in this to build upon at least
thought General Kaufmann who this time made
his mind to send an official mission TO the ANGER
without previously inquiring whether such a step
would be approved OF or not. Thus IL that Gen
cral Staletcw. in company with his college friend
General Rasgonon and STAFF of seven officers. started
at the head OF an escort OF 100 Cossacks.
KAUfMANN's MISSION cABUI.