Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-03
A CLOUD OF UNCERTAINTY
THE ANGLO-RUsSIAN SITUATION
TNTELLIGENTLY REVIEWED.

Diseredit Apt to be Placed on Gen
Lumsden ON Account of His War Ten
dencIes-Succcss of GladstOne's Strad-
dle-The Probable Proposals of the
Conference.
LONDON, May 2.-TO-night the Anglo
Russian situation is one of uncertainty.
There is absolutely no war news, no
peace news, and no news of truce. No
one, that is no one outside of ministerial
circles, is warranted in drawing any con-
clusiOn whatsoever from this abnormal
condition OF affairs. 1t should be borne
in mind, when summing up the situation,
hat up to the present moment Russia has
given the AnglO-SaXOn reader not an item
Of news. Russia has acted, has adj
yanced, has waged battle, has
taken territory, but Russia has
said nothing. England has done all the
talking and has made all the explana-
tions. Hence it is that the Car has had
no retractiOns to make. But Premier
iadstOne'S necessity for making excuses
as been so supreme that in the effort to
talk against the blows last Monday even
ing he succeeded without saying any
thing, in making the greatest speech of
his life, and for making it completely si-
lenced the opposition and got an un-
limited credit and 500, ,000,0 600 IN cash.
EVERYBODY CAPTIvATED.
For 48 hours after the Prime Minis
ter's marvellous OratiOn every JingO in En-
gland was Gladstone man, and
every Quaker prayed for him as
man OF peace. The war party
were sure he meant to simply wipe the
Russians out OF Asia. The peace folks
said: "There is a statesman who realizes
the value Of human life" After five days
t is found that the Premier's address is
still an oracle. If it is to be peace, the
speech urged every honorable effort to
secure an honorable peace. II it is to be
war, the speech dWeit upon the necessity
Of maintaining British honor. So it
happens to-nisht that here, the very
centre of the Old World news, no
more can with any degree OF
tainty be said than that the Anglo
! ussian situation Is one of uncertainty.
! Sd is probable that the situation will re-
.adin just as it is tonight until after the
second council at Gatzschina. Two indi-
| cations as 10 iD ntture OF what the
chan ge in the -iIt %. when il comes
will be present t. ewes to careful OBJ
servers.
THE NEW TACK.
The London newspapers which often
Iest speak by ministerial inspiration be-
gan to-day TO disparage Sir Peter Lums-
den, chief of the British Afghan boundary
commission. 1t WAS Sir Peters word
which Premier Gladstone took upon
which to base the charge that the Russians
had violated faith with England by Occu-
pylng Pul-i-Khiisi. Sir Peter also fur
mshed the report that the Cars troops
had advanced upon Meruchak. Both of
these reported actions constituted
powerful elements to the war fever
among Engli-Hmen. To-day it is
o1Y itfQI it 1af TO a i'm,
each report. 1t IS even limited that he
was ''purpOsely mistaken" Some friends
Of the gOvernmeuJ 20 even so tar as to
say that sir Peter lied to his superiOrs
and that he lied with a purpose. Is is
Veil known that Sir Lumsden belongs and
sympathizes thoroughly with the war
party III India.
EAGER FOR A FIGHT.
It is not quite so generally known that
mis- Indian party is principally controlled
by British military officers who have never
ald a chance 10 distinguish themselves in
war, and who are desperately anxious to
win recognition in battle. They see their
opportunity in the present Russian adj
vance, and it is said that Sir Peter has
been their spokesman. Therefore, if the
Prime Minister Of England should come
squarcy out and announce that England,
in the Afghan controversy with
Russia, has been deceived BY
English agents, many persons
would not be surprised. On the other
hand, it is said that the Cabinet, having
found good ]. ason 10 abandon their war
like attitl de, mean to save themselves by
sacrificing Sir Peter LUmsden for furnish
ing them with beljcose sentiment. 1t is
stated tO-ni-ht, on what appears to be
good authority, that the report published
today to the effect that Russia had ac-
cepted EHgland's proposal to have the
question as To whether Russia, by ghting
the battle of March 80, violated the agree
ment of March Il, submitted to arbitra-
ton, is untrue.
AN IMPORTANT CONFERENCE.
Announcement is also made that the
,onference between Sir Edward Thornton,
he British Ambassador at 81. Petersburg,
and VI. de Giers, the Russian Minister Of
Foreign Affairs, is arranged for Monday
next. The chief result Of this important
interview is expected to be the announce
ment of the first positive intimatiOn or
statement of what the Russian line of
diplomatic action is to be, although there
exists in both British and Russian minis
teral circles here belief that the confer
nee Will lead to an amicable agreement.
Still In neither circle is any expectation
strongly entertained that the agreement,
Whatever IL may be, Will embody any alb
soute acceptance Of the English pro-
INK the Afghan dispute. IL is thought
t1at the result will be more British con-
eassions and further Russian advantages.
The portion Of the English press which
ha. hitherto been most aggressive and
l' ,'mistic is now least aggressive and
most optimistic.
THE REsULrloF THE NEGOTIATIONS.
The latest reliable ad,ices from st.
petersburg hold ont the idea that the sum
tolal of the diplomatic negotiations will
ne long defensive note from NJ dc Giers,
IN which the Russian statesman will
make no admission OF wrong on the part
OF Gen. Komarohr in his Afghan advances
ana which will suggest much further
hasotiations, but no arbitration. While
aii tuis correspondence continues between
london and st. Petersburg there is no
cessation of the tremendous preparations
ana concentrations for active warfare on
eltler side. All this points 10 an ultimate
rupture. NJ dc Gers has already sug-
sesled 10 Sir Edward Thornton that dur
ing the discussion Of the question of OBJ
sseIYance OF the agreement OF March ~,
l9e work Of delimiting the disputed At-
Shan frontier proceed.
H.H.f