Smyrna times., 1885-03-25

The SrEcK OF WAR BETWEEN
ENGLAND AND RUssIA-The situation
between England and Russia about
their frontiers in Asia, the country of
Afghanistan being the dividing line and
bone of contention between the two
empires is so grave as to cause appre-
tensions of war, and the daily papers
have had much 10 say about the hos
tile position of affairs the past few
weeks. The people in this country
have no material interest in the issue
except that a war between these two
great nations would probably cause
a considerable advance in the price of
grain, a circumstance that would at
once awaken Il lively interest in our
farming community throughout the
country 1t looks to us as if there
was little occasion for active hostilities
between these Powers at this time,
but nations 60 to war sometimes for
very little causes The New York
Tribune has a very sensible editorial on
Russia's Ulterior Aims that looks
down deeper into the situation than is
found in most newspaper articles. 1t
says;
"There is one journal in England
that discusses the Afghan situation in
reasonable temper. This is the
Spectator, the steadtast and intelligent
organ of advanced Liberalism. 1t
lays stress upon one point, which
Englishmen ordinarily miss in their
frantic distrust Of everything Russian
1t ridicules the idea SO generally enter
tanned that the government at St.
Petersburg IS either proposing or
planning the conquest of India, an en-
terprise involving the complete subiu-
CATION Of Afghanistan and millions of
fighting HindOOs as well as prolonged
warfare on land and sea with Great
Britain 1t credits Russian diplomacy
with two ulterior purposes one being
of paramount importance, the seizure
Of COnstantinOple; and the other be-
ing subordinate, the acquisition of a
yielding province either in
Persia or Armenia. The first of these
objective points appeals to a secular
longing on the part of the Cars sub
jects that can never be appeased and
as England has been the chief obstacle
to this darling project of Slav imagi-
nation, his advisers desire to disable
her from defending herself in India.
When the opportunity arises they want
to force their way to the Mediterra-
mean, and in order to secure themselves
against interference in their main de-
sign, they are anxious to obtain mean
while commanding position where
they can menace England with attack.
If they can occupy Herat and be ready
to threaten Ca6ul or Candahar when
ever an emergency arises, they will be
well pleased. If they can compel
Greet Britain TO garrison the cit7 and
thus extend its frontier several hun
dreds of miles from the Suleiman
passes, they will be even better pleased.
This Is the Spectators explanation of
Russian policy 1t next considers the
best means Of thwarting these ambi-
tious and insidious designs. This
would be to fOrtify the passes of the
Suleiman, which are higher than those
over the Italian Alps, and the Indus as
a second line. The passage of that
Asiatic Danube, with fortifications and
an irOn-clad river feet in front, and
and the stOrming of a mountain bar
rier far more formidable than the Bal
kan, would be tremendous undertak-
ing, not to be attempted by any sane
government Lord Lawrence was con-
tent to defend India on these impreo-
nable lines, but English public
opinion is not eqaally sagacious. The
Journal in question Reluctantly con-
cedes that this policy is rendered i'm
practicable by the peculiarly unreason-
able temper with which Russian men
aces ara invariably discussed in Lon
don. The Gladstone Government
could not to-day maintain its position
for single day, if it were to fall back
upon the Indus and the Suleiman.
They are forced to defend Herat and
to extend the frontier of India a lone
distance inland to the Hindu Koos6
by leaving the Afghan Ameer master
OF the town and engaging to defend it.
II need be, with the whole force of the |
british and Indian armies, they are
making the best of bad situation
But one fact cannot be disguised The !
Knsslans have accomplished their pur-
pose OF bringing the British within
striking distance at Herat whenever
an opportunity is offered for pushing
on to COnstantinople
The Russian troops can retire to |
Sarakhs and still be near enough TO |
threaten Herat in the future, whenever
a diversion is needed in order to pre-
vent British Interference with other
and larger plans The present compE. |
cations may be amicably settled and a |
permanent frontier NAV be outlined
between the opposing outpOsts; but |
rom this time Herat, although in
Afghan hands, must be defended as an
outpost Of the British Empire, and the |
Russions will have it in their power to |
menace it with attack whenever an
upon which they are now |
carefully calculating, arises either in
the Balkan peninsula, or in Armenia
or Persia"
The President sent the names of four