The Portland daily press., 1885-04-18
RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.
A Hopeful Feeling Prevailing in
London.
England Still Waiting for Concise
Account Of the Kushk Battle.
Turkey Will Maintain Strict
Neutrality.

AONDONJ 6PIA 16s-SeV6ral Gays must elaps0
before the government will be able to make
definite statement of the result of its treatings
with Russia. There was large attendance at Par
lament last night in expectation that Mr.. Glad
stone would make reassuring statements, and
despite the indefinite nature of the statements he
made, a hopeful feeling continued to prevail, the
belief being that the Czar will be Influenced by
urgent adVices from the Emperor of Germany to
maintain peace. AT the time politicians agree
that peace can only be temporary. "reminiscences
of the Ameers visit to Tashkend. published at ST.
Petersburg, say that the Ameer told the Russian
Governor General Kaufman that If he would lend
Russian trumpeter he would blow blast toward
the Rimalayas that would set the whole of India in
revolt against the English.
PARIS, April 17.-A leading Russian in conversa-
tion with journalist, has said that Russia would
not occupy PeDjdeh except with the firm resolution
OF advancing toward Herat not with a view of in
Vading India, but OF continuing her railway from
the Caspian Sea to Herat and thence to the Persian
Gulf. This would give her immense advantages.
He suggested that to avoid war, England should
build the railway from Merv to the Persian Gulf
and allow Russia 10 use it on fixed conditions. thus
satisfying Russia, who could avoid the necessity of
providing the necessary capital 1t would increase
her trade and at the same time give England good
investment for her money.
LONDON. April 1.-THE Central News Agency
says that the statements in regard to the proposed
eession Of PeDjdeh to Russia were classed BY Earl
Granville, last night in the House of Lords among
unauthorized and always inaccurate reports"
wnlch ne ould not afford to waste time in answer
ing. He affirmed positively that Lord Dufferin
Viceroy OF India sent despatch to the home gov
ernment in which he said that in his opinion Pepi-
deh was not worth fighting for. The same agency
asserts that the Cabinet after deliberatiOn adopted
Lord Duferlns reported view of the situation and
maintains that the delimitation of the Afghan
frontier will now be carried forward to successful
issue.
LONDON, April 1.-THE st. Petersburg CORE
spondent of the Times presumes that the Governor
of Penjdeh viii .bs SarYk Turcoman.
General Komarof reports to the Czar as follows:
Inc AfghaEs have evacuated all their frontier
posts Our outposts now occupy their former posi-
tlons. VIII proceed soon to inspect our outp0sts
LONDON, April IT, Gladstone in the House of
Commons this afternoon stated the government had
to-day received from Sir Peter Lumsden a renlv 10
their request for an Independent report on the
Penldeh incident. In this 1t stated that General
komaroft was aware at an early date as the 28th
OF March OF the understanding agreed on March II,
between Russia and England According to the
terms OF this understanding, England was to deter
from advancing beyond the positions then resnsc
lively occupied until some subsequent agreement
about the demarcation of tho Afghan frontier could
be reached between the governments. The battle
on kushk was bought, therefore, several days after
General komaroH was made aware of tho agreement
to not advance. Sir Peter Lumsden's present re-
port appears to- warrant the inference thar what
ever General Komaroff knew personally about ST
Feters6urg's agreemen with Londen he kept to
Mr.. Gladstone, being asked if the government
had protested against the recent Occupation OF
cbJuSA ny O6us hOnarOu and DIS establishment
OF Russian administration there, answered that
the government had not yet made either occurrence
the subject of an official communication with Rus
sla. Ihe government was awaiting further inform
alton concerning these events.
In the House Of Commons TODAY Mr. Gladstone
SAID, I'VE have asked Sir Peter Lumsden sfor full
and concise account of the events Of the 3Oth of
March, tbs day of the Kushk battle and telegram
from him has arrived since We sent our request
The telegram is dated at Tispul, April 49, 1t is in
cipher aud is now being deciphered, We shall be
unsoe 20 say anything further upon this branch of
the subject until the despatch is fully decphered.
Inc fact the Russian commander was aware of the
agreement of the 18th of March before the 3Oth of
March and the question as to whether or not he
acted upon instructions contrary to Instructions
concerning that agreement would form the subject
OF future communications between the government
and Russia. In regard to the reported establish
ment by Russians of an administration at Penideh
the government knew nothing officially and must
await fuller information.
Gladstone concluded by saying that the "goyern.
ment Will on Monday or Tuesday next ask the
House to sanction a vote Of credit. When this is
requested We viii state how mnch money is wanted
and what 1t is wanted for and then shall probably
be able to cover the entire question fully
Inc admiralty has chartered four more largo
steamers to be used as cruisers.
PARIS, April 17.-Essad Pasha Turkish ambassa
dor, has been instructed that Turkey will maintain
neutral position in the event of war between
England and Russia.
The Press ON she Situation,
The Morning Post regards the answers given by
Mr.. Gladstone and Earl GRANVILLE yesterday as un-
Satisfactory Neither OF them, it says, "can be
induced TO reply yes or no to the question as to
whether st. Petersburg and Merv are connected by
telegraph or not The Post insists that the Russian
government can communicate with General Koma-
ron within "A hours. 1t concludes: "Russia of
course, requires no assurances that she may keep
PenJdeh, which she has already sezed.'
fhe Vienna Neue Freie Presse saws that vhila
the Ameer ana Lord Dufferin have been exchanging
courtesies Russian roubles have been influencing
the Afghans.
The London Standard in an editorial SAYS:
I'VE could tolerate delay in negotiations If we
were satisfied that behind all the diatory pleas adj
vanced there was any fixed and sterling purpose
But we have no assurance that they are not well
come screen to cover a conscious feebleness"
The Standard asks whether it is possible that
England cannot count upon the Ameer as a willing
ally, and whether these doubts as to his temner ex.
plain fully the judicial and forbearing spirit eynced
ana avowed by the government, and adds:
"We should like Lord Dutferin's private opiuion
IN regard to the matter. What is there to prevent
the Ameer from thinking that he will have Russia
as friend also? He was Russia's friend before he
was ours,'' ~
The Times. in editorial argues that it is-im
possible to ignore the Pepjdeh incident without
throwing the Ameer into the arms of Russia 'Tbe
government" it says, must take account not onlv
OF the arguments OF European diplomats but OK
the state Of feeling in India and engagements of the
Ameer. The responsibility of giving Russia the
full benefit of accomplished facts on the froniiar
would be heavy indeed and possibly in reosTd ~
one part OF the matter, we may not be entirey our
own masters ""A