The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-16
THE CENTRAL ASIAN QUESTION.

The budget of news published by
the ADVERTISER on Saturday was
very full, and enabled our readers to
comprehend the status of interna-
tional questions among the great
Powers. The signs of the times are
not pacific. They point to war in the
not distant future. Just where the
rupture will take place it is not easy
to indicate, there being several very
weak spots in international relations;
but it would not surprise us if Eng
land and Russia should come into
conflict over the Central Asiatic ques-
ton.
At latest dates the relations were
very strained. Through Teheran
news comes, of date March I'd, that
the Russian frontier Commissioner,
Mr.. Melessar, had made such sweep
ing demands that England cannot
accept anything approaching them,
and that the complete collapse of the
delimitation project and the early
advance of Russian troops towards
Herat is expected. Next day it was
telegraphed from London that Earl
Granville, British Foreign Secretary,
had effected an agreement with the
Russian Government on the Afghan
frontier question, the final point
being referred to the Anglo
Commission. This point is the right
of the Afghans to occupy Pehjdeh.
-
The Russians have already advanced
their outposts south of Pull Khoo-
loom to Zulfugar and Pehjdeh, thus
/. occupying the position which is to be
the subject of a conference. EvG1@S
one having any knowledgs4sr -'-,rery
understands what th<, r1nse OF affairs
STA will notnds 1'"C means NUS
naturcn his - retire. The critical
bv Ghie of the situation was admitted
--.1sd the Secretary of State for India
in the House of Lords, on March Sd,
in reply to the Marquis of Salisbury.
"He had no hesitation in saying that
the Russian outposts were within
Afghan territory, and that they form
q considerable advance in the direc-
ton of Herat." "Does the whole
question of peace or war between
England and Russia depend upon
chance squabble between Afghan and
Russian outposts ?" asked the Mar
ouis of Lothian, to which Lord Gran
Vile declined to reply without notice.
It will be seen, therefore, that af-
fairs are in very critical state, and
that war between Russia and Eng
land over the Central Asian question
is almost inevitable. Russia has
systematically lied to and deceived
England for the past fifteen years re-
garding its aggressive policy in Cen
trail Asia. When General Muraviet
began his forward movement against
the Khanates the late Gear expressed
his disapprobation, and Prince Gorts-
chakof gave assurance that Russia
did not want to extend it's possessions
in Asia but the Khanates were alb
sOrbed Notwithstanding.
Then followed Russian intrigues at
Cabul, the detection of Shere Ali, and
his death on mission to the Russian
Governor General. "A WAL VI SUI
cession followed, varied by the mas
sacre of the British Legation at
CabuI, the deposition of the new
Ameer, Yakhob Khan, and his inten-
ment in British India. Ayou Khan,
a brother of the deposed Amer,
raised the standard of rebellion at
Herat, and advanced upon Candahar'
disputing the throne with his uncle,
the reigning Amer. Ayou, twill be
remembered, crushed an English
force near Candahar, and cooped up
the English garrison in the citadel.
General Roberts thereupon cut loose
from CabuI, and marched the entire
distance between the two points IN
midsummer, without the loss of
man, carrying supplies and every
drop of water the troops consumed
and within two hours of sighting the
enemy he had whipped them, while
Avon Khan was fugitive for Persia
Lord Beaconsfield thereupon estab
Iished q "scientific frontier" for In