Morning journal and courier., 1882-02-27
THE OLD WORLD.
Germany.

A Review of Russia's Treaty with Persia. BERLIN, Feb. 2G.-Upon the frontier treaty just concluded between Russia and Persia Professor Vambery has just published some important remarks in the Azegenaetne Zeitung of Augsburg The article is headed, "Sar- achs, Merv and Herat." The writer says There is something very strange in the CO., incidence of the famous speech of General Skobeleff with the conclusion of the Russo- Persian treaty. By this instrument the King of Persia is alleged to have voluntarily ceded to Russia that part of the northern border of Ivan stretching from Ashtabachs to Sarchs, thus realizing Russia's long cherished desire to have her lately won Turcoman possessions rounded off. Everybody knew beforehand that it was not for nothing that Russia squandered millions on the East Caspian railway from Michaelovsk to Bann, provided General Rohrberg, Skobeleff's successor, with ample means for arming the Turcoman forts and fixed her gaze upon the hitherto barren steppes of this part of Central Asia. This new trick of Russian policy therefore cannot surprise us, but it is astonishing with what feverish haste Russia has worked at her plans Wn1Cn Sn6 mas always hitherto kept secret In this instance her precipitation was apparently caused by very important motives. Her ex- traord1nary and precipitate advance against the western branches of the Paropamsus at time when she did not wish to startle her liberal friends on the Thames is explained by two important reasons It was the excel lence of the soil and the immense agricul-- xoI1 of hn nVU1 for tnTU that prompted her to annexation regardless of British susceptibility. The so-called northeast border of Ivan, the northern branches of the mountain chains of Kubbit, Dagh, Allah, Akabar and Muzderay, with the whole valley from Kizil Arrat to the Sarchs, ancient Chorassan. These regions are most favored as regards climate, while irrigation has long been known to them The same but in still higher de- gree may be said of the quasi-masterless country stretching from Mehne and Sarachs along both banks of the Henri beyond Herat. From time immemorial this was the highway followed by the northern hordes in- vading the cultivated regions of the South. A traveller proceeding from Herat to the east ern frontier of Persia finds along the whole way rich alluvial soil Watered by the branches of the Herirud towards the east and northeast of Herirud too, and partly also through the whole country between it and Murgab similar territorial conditions pre- vailed Since Russia first appeared to the east of the Caspian, the whole region has been destined to complete change. The first view Russian explorers obtained of the Valley of Kubbet Dagh completely over whelmed them. It is therefore not difficult to understand why Russia should now seize with both hands the Garden of Chorasan, after she had spent so much blood and harran rnOinnS For ann6QranG0 sake she uses the form of treaty in taking the country from Persia. AS regards the po- litical and strategic side of the question, 1t hardly need be remarked that Russia has now become the immediate neighbor of Herat. Through her position near Sarachs and through the occupation of that masterless country she will now no longer care for Merv She will wait till the nomads there voluntarily surrender This, in fact, is al- ready partly done and the completion of the work is facilitated for the future, for Russia is now the master of the river system of Merv. After these explanations the first question Is what will the British say to this latest ad- vance of the Russians. Will they take 1t cheerfully that the Shah should thus have thrown himself into Russia's arms? For the Shah is now really to be ruled by Russian embassy at Teheran, as General Skobelef himself has loudly proclaimed. And in this fact we have a second motive. The fever ish haste of Russian friendship of the Gladstone ministry to St. Petersburg was much too favorable opportunity to be allowed to slip without being completely utilized by Russia. Five years ago the peo- pie on the Thames regarded the Russian approach to Herat in a spirit of 7a0tinae-tGn gere. This attitude is now entirely abandon ed The latest Russian reconnoitreings aI- ready extend fifty miles beyond Ashkabad. According to the last speech of Lord Harting- ton the present English policy only aims at the speediest possible pacifcation of Afghan istan and producing amity between the Cabul and the Viceroy of India, which these strange politicians regard as the best preservativs against Russia's aims in the direction of In- dia. Whoever knows Asia and especially the Afghans, will certainly not envy the gen. tlemen of the Liberal school of England their happy trustfulness. The Afghans never can nor will be friends of England If the Gladstone Cabinet really hope to see such an impossibility happen they will find themselves completely in error, for in the first place Abdurrahman Is not completely sovereign there, and secondly proportionate- ly to Russia's approach to HeraS the always dubious sympathy of this former Russian pensioner will decline. Thus England must either prevent the Russian advance towards Herat or allow the Cossacks free march via Candahar to the immediate neighborhood of India. To support Afghanistan at any sacri- fee to make her an independent State and al- low Russia's unhindered advance to Herat is policy devoid of all logic or reason and it's vicious consequences hardly admit of ever being remedied.