Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1885-05-13

condition. The English protested, it is true.
against the sub ugation of Khiva, although
Russian troops confined themselves to the right
bank Of the Oxus in their permanent occupa-
ton. They protested, alsa, against the oc1ura-
ton OF Merv in 1891. Some even went so far as
e e, adyise sending money aud af',innnitinh to
pose the Russians. The occupation OF Merv
and the neighboring provinces brought the
Russians for the first time close to the Afghan
on',er EeW ta ana to Herat aa the
given up their fears that Russia might All
vance through kashgar or the mountain
defeats and bad fortune had become convinced
that 1t would be difhult for the Russians 70 at
tack India by the way OF Cabul; but Herat once
occupied, the road would be easier, all success
full invasions of India having come from the
Afghan frontier. The.Eussians, in reply to En-
glands questions, had already proposed a CON-
mission for the purpose OF settling the bound
aries of Afghanistan, which the English had re-
fused, fearing lest by accepting this they would
tmpltedly agree to Russian Occupat on UP to
the very line. After Merry was taken the Rus-
slams renewed their proposition. and this time
1t was accepted. The English, however, pro
posed that the boundary commission should con-
sist OF one Englishman, one Russian, ami on,
Afghan. This Russia objected to on the ground
that. according to their own arrangement with
England, and especially by the treaty made be-
tween the Ameer Of Afghani- tan and England
after the late war, the Afghans were put under
English protsc ion; that while tho English Com
missioner could ask the Afghans for advice ami
counsel. just as the Russians could the Turco
mans, Their subjects. tire boundary must be
drawn by the two nation- alone. After some
discussion this was sgread to. Sir Peter Lums-
den, an ENGLISH officer we'll known in India,
was appointed the Russian Commissioner. as
sisted by MIR. Condie Stephen a young diplo-
matist who had won hi. spurs, first by acquir-
ing thoroughly the English language, then by
his successful managem ent Of the Consulate at
Philippopo is, and, finally, by his leadership Of
several surveying and exploring parties on
the Persian frontier. They were accompanied
by large staff and an escort. The Russians
appointed as their &C mmiss!oner Gen. Zelevoi !;
but before the time appointed for the meeting
the Russian Commissioner was taken i'll at
Tflis. 1t WAS necessary, the Russians thought
for some agreement to be cone to as to the
region through which the boundary line should
be drawn, an rs to the principles which should
govern the delineation. This it was better to
arrange at home. and for that purpose Capt
Lessar, FIR nch engineer officer in the Russan
service, who had explored the whole ragion up
been attached as diplomatic asens :t ,'iie 10 the
Governor General commanding the trans
caspian region. was sent to London I r
English Government. There were various de-
lays, caused more by the English than by the
Russians. and. meanwhile. before the arrival of
Lessar at London. or even the departure Of Sir
Peter Lumsden for the frontier, the Afghans
melted by the English in India, had advanced
and taken the small town of Penjdeh, over
which they had had NO actual rule for very
within the conditions of the arrangement OF
l872 As q protest against this, the Russians
their i5 wnsr the
drawn Such was. in brief, the state cf affairs
when the present controversy b came still more
embfttcred by the advance OF Gen. Komarof.
That Russia should wish India for its own
sake seems too absurd to be worth considera-
ton. when we remember that the size OF India
is equal to three-quarters OF that OF Russia In
ESrsPs that ss oniS o%Gun,s to
Bumed by Russia in case OF annexation. is over