Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1885-03-21
ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.
Some Suggestive Talk from q
Russian Diplomat.

Russian Diplomat.
An eminent Russian diplomat gives
this inside and interesting view of the
situation.
The correspondent asked: "Why is
Russia seeking to push the southern
boundary Of 1urkestan into Afghanis-
TAM"
The answer was: Russia is doing
nothing Of the kind. There is a strip Of
disputed territory lying between the two
countries. The line of d%climitation is ~
yet vague, and it is only imaginary a.
far us the natives on both sides are con-
cerned. Both Afghans and Turkomans
in that part of Asia rely chiefly upon
their herds of cattle for sustenancc.
Cattle require feed and salt. Grazing
land and saltwells are found on both
sides of the boundary line. Perhaps the
Tnrkoman Is as much to blame a. the
Afghan, but each of them drives hi.
cattle where they can get grass, wate4,
and salt. When they are told that they
are crossing the boundary-line they say:
Where is the boundary-line? Show it
to us. Is it on the ground? We have
looked there. Is it in the sky2 We have
looked there, and we have not found it,
"What harm comes from this vague
ness Of boundary"
"There are continual incursions of
cattle thieves from the Afghan side Of
the disputed territory. 1t is lot o mat
ter of stealing a few bullocks or COWS
and changing a brand or two, but ex-
tensive raids are organized, in which
hundreds of we'll mounted and we'll
equipped men!are engaged. OF course the
owners of the cattle resist as we'll ~
they can, but the Afghan raiders arc
almost invariably successful, and per-
haps a thousand head of cattle are
driven into Afghanistan, while their late
owners and a few of the Afghans lie dy-
ing in the fields"
"What has England to do with all
this?"
"You could find the answer to that
question on the stock exchange more.
easily than at this embassy, if the.
hnanciers would tell you the truth as l
am doing. Russia is building a railway
from Askalad towards Herat. England
is trying to build one from Quettah to-
ward the same objective point. 1 do.
not know that there is any military sig
%nificance in either of these facts. but
the Capel court gentlemen have made.
many investors in all parts of England
believe it Is a patriotic duty to buy,
shares and debentures in the Quettal,-
Herat road. hope it will be a paying
investment for them, but l am not in it
myself.
"Then you think this threatened war
is only bondholders' talk?"
"No please take notice that 1 did moi
say that"
H ethrew away his big cigaret, straight
ened himself in his chair, and contract
ed his brow with an ugly scowl, for the
first during the interview, as he said:
at is impossible, and England may
as we'll understand it DOW, for Russia
to continue to submit to English dict,-
ton in Russian affairs. Russia's rights.
in Afghanistan are fourfold greater than
England's, but Russia has no idea of ill.,
vading that country. The Afghans are.
our neighbors and should be our friends.
England is very distant, both from them
and US, and should keep her hands of.
If she rushes in where we have abstain
ed from encroachirg, it may be neces-
sary to teach her a lesson"