The Portland daily press., 1885-05-09
NOT ARBITRATION,
But Respectable Means OF Ter
minating an Incident,
Is a Russian Papers Explanation Of
the Proposed Settlement of the
Trouble.
Current Rumors Of a Continued
Russian Advance.
M. De Giers' Note to Earl Granville
Dot Satisfactory to England.

LONDON, May 0.-Rum0r8 are current in
Paris Of steady and continued Russian ad-
vance in Afghanistan, but it is impossible to
trace them to any authentic source. They
have probably originated from the news of the
Russian occupation OF PeDjdeh. The official
news agency in Paris, which is supposed to
represent the views of the French Cabinet,
publishes London despatch dwelling on the
fact that throughout the dispute Germany has
given no indication Of the attitude she intends
to assume regarding the controversy. The
despatch says that the German ambassador in
London still holds as pessmistic view OF the
situation as when everything looked desperate,
and that the English officials still fear that
Germany is unfavorably disposed toward Eng
land, and is not anxious to see peace. The
Times continues to urge the government to
persuade the Ameer to allow the presence of
an English garrison at Herat. The announce
ment in the st. Petersburg Official Messenger
is expected to have resssuring effect, as being
the first intmation BY Russia that she will
send a commission to meet the English COM
naisssaE.
The conference between Earl Granville and
Baron De Staal, arranged to be held yesterday
at the Foreign Office for the purpose of formal
ly opening the discussion on the delimitation
of the Russo-Afghan boundary, Is postponed,
as Baron De Staal is awaiting communication
on the subject from st. Petersburg Negotia-
tioBs continue on the demand OF Earl Gran
vile that Russia'S assurances that her troops
will not advance to Herat shall take the torn
Of treaty. 1t is reported that M. De Giers
maintains that the simple expression of such
intention is sufficient pledge. General Zele-
nov has been recalled from Tiflis to St. Peters
burg TO assist in the delimitation inquiry. M.
De Gers has instructed General Komaroff to
prepare a detailed report, with charts, of the
advance on Penjdeh, as basis for reference to
an arbitrator.
Many members of the House OF Commons
think the recall of Sir Peter Lumsden forms
1e 49, 49, =
Russia, the telegram ordering him home hav-
ing been sent the day after the receipt of Rus
sis's reply. 1t is reported that the attitude of
the British government is partly due to the re-
ceipt OF report from General Sir Donald
Stewart, the commander OF the Indian forces,
that it would be imprudent to undertake an
expedition TO HeraS until railway has been
completed to the Pisheen valley, which will
take three years. M. Lessar, the Russian
boundary commissioner, had conference with
Earl Granville yesterday with respect to the
delimitation of the Russo-Afghan frontier.
An arbitrator has not yet been chosen.
The Daily News says 1t is able 10 state that
Earl Dufferin warmly approves the settlement
that has been made by England and Russia, as
will appear from papers which are about to be
laid before Parliament. The News also says
that the prospect of peace will not affect the
budget. The money will be devoted to the
WORK of increasing the navy, and any residue
will be applied to the sinking fund.
A despatch from Bombay says feeling of
great serenity prevails there at the prospect OF
the avoidance of war, and that there is no dam
ger OF the loyalty of the natives being ina
paired. War, the despatch states, would re-
tard the internal reforms introduced by Lord
Ripon. Advices from Cabnl state that the
Ameer of Afghanistsn has informed his minis
ters OF his intention to strongly fortify the
frontier when the delimitation has been per-
fected.
A st. Petersburg despatch says: Colonel
Zakrjefski's report of the battle of March 80
is identical with that of General Komaroff.
He admits that the Afghans were armed with
poor rifles, but says that their guns were better
than those of the Russians. He asserts that
the Afghan force numbs jared 1000 men, while
there were only 1900 Russian troops. He
brings with him two captured Afghan stand
ards. The colonel is the hero OF the day. Ad-
miral PopoH has been intrusted with the de-
fence Of the Black Sea ports
LONDON, May 8.-A despatch from Calcutta
to the Times says: "The news of tho peace
arrangements has created dsmay here. and
peace so obtained is considered dangerous and
humiliatng. Reports which reach here from
the northwest provinces and from Afghanis
tan agree in representing the vaccillation of
the ministry as ruinous to British prestige
In the House of Commons this afternoon
Sir Stafford Northcote gave notice that he
would on Monday move that the House is
entitled to the fullest knowledge of the gov
ernment's action in regard to the Afghan dis
pute, and the uses to which the gil, 200, 900 to
be voted are to be put.
Gladstone gave notice of proposal by the
government of marriage dowry for Princess
Beatrice, who is to be welded shortly to Prince
Henry of Battenberg.
ST. PETERSBURG, Mey 3.-The Moscow Ca
Z9tte, with reference to the submission of the
Afghan frontier difficulty Ito arbitration, says:
1t was only possible to permit the correct
ness of our action to be certified by third
party. Such course as this is not arbitr alton
in any proper sense of the term, but simply
respectable means of terminating an Incl
dent"
The Novoe vremya and the Noyosti express
great pleasure that Sir Peter Lumsden, who
they say made all the mischief, has been re-
called to London.
NEW YORK, May s.-The Evening Posts
London correspondent teegraphs: 81 have
unquestionable authority for stating that Rus
sia has categorcally declined to make any
treaty binding her not to advance on Herat."
LONDON, May 8.-Baren De Staai, Russian
ambassador, impaired to Earl Granville today
the substance of a note from M. De Gers with
reference to the basis of the Afghan frontier
negotiations. It is reported the note is not
satisfactory TO the British government. The
conference on the frontier question will be
held Tuesday. The differences between the
two governments as to the terms upon which
the question shall be referred to the arbitrator
are becoming greater.
The statement of the Official Messenger of
St. Petersburg that the dispute will be sub
mitted to arbitration only in case of necessity,
Is semi-offieally declared to be inaccurate.
Earl Granville, in his discussion with Baron
De Staa, holds that Russia's acceptance of ar
biiration must be absolute.
Uncertainty was the prevailing feature in
the stock market to-day. The market opened
dull on renewed rumors Of the resignation of
Lord DufferiD, and operators were not dis.
posed to speculate in view of the present state
Of uncertainty. Meanwhile the approaching
fortnightly settlement restricts business.
PARIs, May S.-The stock market to-day was
generally depressed and lower.
BERLIN, May S-The stock market to-day
was weak throughout, with downward tend