The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-05-08
THE ANG0-RUSSIAN PUZZLE.
INTIMATIoN THAT ENGLAND WEAKENs
AND LUMSDEN IS A SCAPE GOAT.
Speculation Instead of Facts.

Speculation Instead of Facts.
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, 10
warranted In drawing conclusion from this
abnormal condition of affairs. 1t should be
borne in mind that up to this moment Ru s.
sia has given the Russian-Saxon reader not
an item of news. Russia has acted, has sd
Vanced, but said nothing. England has done
all the talking; has made all the explsna-
tions; hence the Car has no retractions TO
make. But Gladstone's necessity for max :
ing excuses has been so supreme that, in tn Q
effor: to talk against blows last Monday, he
succeeded, without saying anything, in max
Ing the greatest speech of his life, and fer
making it got completely silenced opposi.
ton, unlimited credit and $50, 0OO, 900 cash.
For 4S hours after the prime minister's mar
velous Grafton, every jngo in England was 9
Gladstone man, and every Quaker prayed
for him as q man of peace. The war party
were sure he meant to wipe Russia out Of
Asia. The peace folks said: "There is q
statesman who realizes the value Of human
life." After five days 1t is found that the
Premier's address is still an oracle. If 1t Is
to be peace, the speech urged every honora.
BILE method to secure an honorable peace. If
1t is to be war, the speech dwelt upon the
/ necessity of maintaining British honor. So
n happens tonight that here, In the very
center of old world news, no more can with
any degree Of certainty be sold than that the
Anglo Russian situation is uncertain. 1t is
probable the situation will remain as 1t is
tonight until after the second council at
Gatschins. Two indications as to the ma
ture of what The change in the situation,
when 1t comes will be present themselves to
the careful observer. The London news
papers which oftenest speak by ministerial
inspiration begin to disparage Sir Peter
Lunsdn, Chief of the British Afghan boun-
Diary commission. 1t was Sir Peters word
which Gladstone took upon which to base
the charge that Russia had violated faith
with England BY occupying Pulikisht. Sir
Peter aso furnished the report that the
Cars troops had advanced on Msruchak.
Both Of these reported actions constituted
powerful elements to the war fever among
Englishnen. To-day it is admitted that Sir
Peter was mistaken. It Is even limited that
he was 'purposely mistaken" Some of the
friends Of the government 60 so far as to say
Sir Peter lied to his superior, and that he
lied with purpose. 1t is well known that
he belongs to and sympathzes with the war
party in India. 1t Is not so generally known
that this Indian war party is principally con-
troled by British officers who have never
had Glance to distinguish themselves, and
who are anxious to win recognition in bat
tie. They see their opportunity in the pres
emit Russian advance, and it is said Sir Peter
has bsen their spokesman. Therefore, If the
and announce that Eng and, in the Afghan
controversy, had been deceived by English
agents many persons would not be surprised.
On the other hand, 1t is said the Cabinet,
having found good reason to abandon their
warlike attitude, mean to save themselves
by sacrificing Sir Peter for furnishing them
with bellicose sentiment. II Is stated on
what appears to be good authority that the
report published to-day to the effect that
Russia had accepted England's proposal to
have the question as TO whsther Russia, by
fighting the battle of the 30th of March, vio-
lated the agreement of the 18th of March
nouncement Is also made that . conference
bst~aoa Sir Edward Thornton, British Am.
bassador at st. Petersburg. and De Oilers.
Russian Minister Of Foreign Affairs, is ar
ranged for Monday next. The chief result
Of this interview 10 expected to be the an
nouncement of the first positive intimation
Of what the Russian line of diplomatic &C.
ton is to be. Although there exists in both
British and Russian ministerial circles q be-
lief that the conference will lead to an ami
cable agreement, still in neither circle is the
expectation entertained that the agreement,
whatever 1t may be, will embody any abso-
lutte acceptance of the English proposals
which have been made concerning the Az
CHAN dispute. 1t is thought the result will
be more British concessions and further
Russian advantages. Thai portion of the
English press which has been the most ag-
gressive and pessimistic is new the least az
gressive and the NEST optimistic. The latest
reliable advices from st. Petersburg hold out
the idea that the sum total of the diplomatic
negotiations will be q long defensive note
from De Giers, in which the Russian states
man will make no admission of wrong on
the part of General Komsroff in his Afghan
advance, and which will suggest further ne
gotiation, but no arbitration. While all this
correspondence continues between London
and st. Petersburg, there Is no cessation Of
preparations for active warfare on either