New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-25

without giving I'D Ashurada; and throughout
tho ;ntervenino period she has been steadily
pursuing a course which must bring her 1rontie'
to the Hindu Kush.
1t Is true that English statesmen have oil thiS
time persisted in dsregarding warnings con-
corning the Russian policy In Central Asia, Dut
there is no excuse for surprise now. 1t mas Deeh
pointed ont again and again by the highest
authorities that Hcrat ought to be in British
hands if India was to be kept safe. But to-day
Russian troops are at Pcnjdeh, within hundred
miles of Herat Persia stands ready to throw
omen her territory between the Caspian and the
Murghab; Russian railway is projected and
partly built to KILL Arvat and thus the MUS
covite base of operations ia pushed so far ior-
ward that the conquest of Afghanlstan can DC
undertaken at no distant period with conn.,
dence. OF course the Russians have no right TO
be at Pcnjdeh. Their presence there is a viola
ton of the Ameer's territory. But it, asis highly
probable, they come into collision with tne
Ameers troops, the event will doubtless be utll-
lied as an excuse for more serious expedition.
The seizure of Herat indeed may well be In
tended by this move on Penjdeh, and if Russia
once obtains the sO-called Key of India, she
will not be easily disOdged.
The theory of a neutral zone has never been
favored at St. Petersburg For years the Rus
sian press and especially the inspired journals,
such as the GOlOs-h have advocated the making
of the Hindu Kush the boundary between British
India and Russian Central Asia. Diplomatic
discussion has indeed been more cautious, but
there ought never to have been q doubt in the
mind of q capable observer that when in the
| natural course of things she came to the Afghan
frontier she would cross it with a definite ag-
gressve purpose unless Cabul was under British
protection. Five years ago the garrsOning OF
fierat by English troops would probably have
insured the maintenance of Russian neutrality
for considerable period. But to-day is may be
| too late Tor such action, and to-day also Russia
| is plainly repeating her Black Sea Treaty policy
and taking advantage of her rivals embarrass-
ments. Russia at Herat-nay. even perma-
nently at Penjdch-means the passage OF
Afghanistan beyond the control OF England.
Mr.. Gladstone's Government may defer the In
ev.able collision by ceding Penjdeh to Russian
| Turkestan an easy matter considering that IL
| il the territory of an independent Power but
| Ucrat will be none the safer for such an ad-
| instment of the boundary, and India will feel
the shadow of the coming danger none the less.
So loEg as the Eastern question remains
source of European contention, so long must
Russian promixity to British India be constant
menace and menace involving not only the
aggression of the great Northern Power but
the organization Of a new Eruption of Central
| Asian hordes who have not forgotten the
| legends of TameIlanc and Genghis Khan, into
that great treasure house over which they ana
| THAR opccstors have lowered and glOated Tor
centuries Should this ever occur some such
time as the present will certainly be chosen anu
then native Instructions will still further com
plicatc the situation, and England will have t.
fight for her lite in Hindostan.