The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-18
GladstOne's Government, Like Micaw-
ber, Expecting Something to Turn
Up-The War Prepara.
tiOns Kept Up.
France Expecting Another Hitch
In Fer Chinese Negotiations
Another Soudan Move.
ment.
THE RUSSO-AFGHAN FRONTIER.
The Government. According to Gladstone,
sun Awaiting Further Information
Regarding the Penjdeh
Affair

LONDON, April l7.-Mr. Gladstone in the
House of Commons this afternoon stated that
the Government had 10 day received from
Sir Peter LumsdeR q reply to their request
for an independent report upon the Penideh
incident. In this il s stated that Gereral
Komarof wss aware AT so early date as the
2Sth of March of the understanding agreed
upon on March Il, between Russis and Eng
la1S. Acc r5ing to the terms o: this under
standing England was TO deter the Afghans,
and the Gar was TO deter his troops from ad-
yancipg beyond the position they then re-
spectiully occupied until come subsequent
agreement about tie demarkation of the
Afghan frontier could be reached between
the two Govern ments The battle on the
Kushk was fought therefore several days
after General KomRIoff had been made
aware Of the agreement to not advance. 1t
will be remembered that Captain Gates. q
British officer, who witnessed the battle. was
assured by Russian officer who commanded
the fight, that he knew nothing of the under
standing of the 18th of March. Sir Peter
Lumtden's present report seems to
warrant the reference that what
ever General komsrof knew officially
about St Peter burg's agreement with Lon
don he kept 70 himself. Mr.. Gladstone be.
ing asked If the Government had protested
against the recent occupation of Penjdeh by
General komarof and his stablishment of q
Russian administration there, answered that
the Government had net yet made either oc-
cuTreDce subject Of official communication
with Russia. The Government was await.
ing further information, the Premier said,
concerning the events.
Continuing, Gladstone ssid: We asked Sir
IN a n IN Puraff frTa
account of the events of the 3Oth of March
(the day the battle on the Kushk was
foOght). A telegram from him has arrived
since We sent our request This dispatch is
dated TirRuls, April l3. 1t is in cipher and
IS now being deciPhered. We shall bs IN
upon this branch Of the sub.
ject until this dispatch is fully deciphered.
The fact that the Russian commander was
swsre of the agreement Of the 17th OF March
before the Both of March and the question as
10 whether or not he acted upon instructions
or contrary to instructions concerning that
agreement, would form the subject Of future
communications between the Government
and Russia. In regard to the reported estab-
lishment bv the Russians of an administers
tion at Per jdeh, the Government knew moth
ing officially, and must await fuller informa.
ton" Mr.. Gladstone concluded by saying:
THE Government will, on Monday or Tues
day next, ask the House to sanction a vote
OF credit When this is requested We will
state how much money is wanted and what
it is wanted for, and then shall be able to
cover the entire question fully"
Lerd Edmond Fitzmaurice, Under Foreign
Secretary, in answer to an interrogatory pat
by Sir Stafford Northcote in the Commons,
ssid that the Government considered Penj.
deb in Afghanistan proper, but not far from
the Russian frontier.
The Statement About PeDideh Pronounced
of Central News .TaouFactura