The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-14
A Collision Between Russian and Afghan Ont
posts Will Not Necessarily Result in War.
Between Russia and England.
Both Sides Agree that Neither Shall
Make Any Advance at Present.
The Announcement Causes Great Satisfaction
in England, Though 1t Is Not Certain
War Will Not Finally Result.
THE AFGHAN QUESTION.
An Agreement Under Which No Further Ad-
vance Will Be Made.

An Agreement Under Which No Further Ad-
vance Will Be Made.
LONDON, March l3-In the House of Com
MONS this afternoon, Mr. Gladstone announced
that an agreement had been arrived at between
Russia and England, by the terms of which
neither the Russian nor Afghan forces would ad
vance any further on either side of the frontier
Sir Stafford Northcote asked whether this
agreement was permanent or temporary ar
rangement.
Mr.. Gladstone replied that the agreement was
without any specific limit The best description
he could give was that the agreement was to last
as long as there was occasion forit Laughter
This agreement provides against a rupture of
the friendly relations between the two govern
ments in the event of a collision between the
Afghan and Russian outposts, which might pos
sibly occur while instructions were being con-
veyed to the opposing commanders
The members of the Commons heard Glad.
stones announcement of the agreement between
England and Russia with an almost general
sense OF relief, the agreement afording reason
to hope that war may yet be averted by diplo-
matte means. It is believed Sir Peter
Lumsden has the Afghans sufficiently
under control to prevent a collision
between the Afghan and Russian
outposts, pending pacific settlement of the from
tier dispute. Some prominent Conservatives
point out that the agreement will not prevent
Russia from massing troops on the borders of
the debatable territory. and they object to the
Russians being allowed to remain even tempo
rarily on territory claimed as belonging to AT
obs CiuD o&o 10.
cretionary powers touching his course in the event
of a dangerous Russian advance. He is nearly
six days march distant from the nearest tele-
graph station What his action will be in the
event of Russian attack upon an Afghan
stronghold has not been allowed to become
known, but it is believed he will send officers to
Herat to organize the Afghan troops, while he
himself assumes position not necessarily war
like, at Robat Pass.
Harrington Secretary of State for War, stated
this evening, in the Commons, that it was i'm
possible to deny that there was still cause for
great anxiety regarding the relations of Great
Britain and Russia.
The arrangements between England and Rus
STA, announced by Mr.. Gladstone in the Commons,
was concluded to- day, and resulted in decision
that the Cabinet would not insist on withdrawal
of the Russian troops from the outposts during
the deliberation of the joint commission
Baron de Stael yesterday sent a denial to
Granville and DeGiers OF the report that troops
were concentrating at Kaskabad. He also pro-
tested against the preparations for war which
it is reported are now being made in England
and demonstrations upon the Indian frontier
which, he said, were calculated to lessen the
chances of an amicable settlement consequent
upon the agreement.
The Standard says the agreement between
England and Russia leaves the es-
sence of the difficulty untouched. Mat
ters must have been bad when such
an agreement was paraded as diplomatic gain
Many consider the pause in the situation pre-
Jude to q surrender.
The War Department is making preparations
with q view to the possible occurrence of serious
trouble in Afghanistan. Orders have been sent
to the arsenals at Bombay and Bengal to prepare
all kinds Of ammunition The details for two
army corps are already completed. Each will
number 1900 officers 81, 300 men and II, 800
horses. The Admiralty is making arrangements
to have feet of transports in readiness
-Lumsden is encamped on Persian territory, not
far from Herat. The expectation is that he will
enter Herat in case the Russians make any fur
Their advance.
The Governor of the Caucasus, General Don
doukon Korsakoff has returned TO Tihis The
tone of the Russian press continues extremely
bellicose and open declarations are made that
Russia intends to have Herat. The Novoe
Vremya calls the approaching meeting of Lord
Dufferin and the Ameer of Afghanistan military
demonstration on the Russian frontiers Russia
and England the writer continues, will soou
meet on dry land and the result will oe that the
isolated security hitherto enjoyed by the British
empire will be destroyed.
Baron Mohrenheinl, Russian embasador to
France has been interviewed in regard to the
present Anglo Russian situation He expressed
the opinion that Emperor William would exert
his influence TO avert war, and also endeavor to
induce England to make some concessions He
secuted the idea that Russia would
withdraw her troops from the positions
at present occupied. Such action, he said would
reflect dishonor upon the Russian arms. In case
England did not declare war. it was certain, in
his opinion, that Russia would not do so. He
thought it extremely unlikely that England
would declare war, as she has her hands full
already. DeGiers the Russian Prime Minister
was animated by desire for peace, and the in.
tuence of the war party in Russia had dmin-
ished since the death of Gen. Skobeleff
The North German Gazette, of Berlin, repudi-
ates the idea that Germany VIII imperl the
friendly relations now existing p3tween herself
and Russia 0y venturing 10 place q veto upon
any regulations Russia may choose to make on
the frontier.
The Gar Does Not Mean War