New-York tribune., 1885-03-29
THE NEWS IN LONDON.
RUSSIA STILL UNDECIDED-THEP PROSpECr
OF PEACE FRIGHTENING.

,-x,.rv ppsprcrryG THE AMEER's PosITIoN-rHE
,,y,srpy RESOLVED TO SECURE PEACE BY ACT
,xo ,s r WAR WE'RE INEvITABLE-MR
LowKLIs RECALL
lBY CABLE THE TRIBUNEl
LONDON. March 2S.-The sudden prevalence Oh
renewed anxiety in London about Ango-Russlan
relations seems due chiefly to two causes Russian
delay in answering Lord Granville's last note ana
English military preparations here and in INDIA;
but the situation remains essentially unchanged
since last week. NJ de Giers's reply does not come
becanse the conflict between the peace ana war
partics in Russia continues, and because also poth
now think that procrastnation favors Russia NOT
does the English Cabinet regard the present dis-
match as probably decisive on the main issues It's
tenor is understood to be nothing more than
categorical demand for an immediate reference OF
all boundary questions to the delimitation coh-
mission. If Russia agrees, disputes over techni-
ealites are hung up for months If she refuses she
can hardly avoid submitting a counter proposal
NJ. LEssAR CONFIDENT OF PEACE.
M Lessar ever since his arrival has declared him.
self confident of a pacific solution. He said last
night that he considered the prospect OF peace
better. not worse. The alarm in London is not
shared in any single foreign capital.
THE AMEERs DECISION.
The English Ministers await the result OF the
meeting between Lord Dufferin and the Ameer on
Monday with perhaps more solicitude than the
Russian dispatch. The Ameer is in position TO
force England's hand, if he chooses. He has never
vet pledged himself to the arrangement by which
the forces retain their present posts
handing negotiations Should he refuse. still more
should he insist on England's pressing the demand
now withdrawn for the retirement of the Russians,
the crisis would instantly become acute. 10
decline the Ameers request would lmperil the
Anglo-Afghan alliance and risk throwing the Ahieer
into Russian arms To accept would bring the
negotiations with Russia into confusion and
possibly provoke immediate collision. But the
Cabinet relies confidently upon Lord Dutferin's
persuasive genius to bring the Ameer to reason
THE RACE FOR PENJDEH.
The Russian party in London now bases the
Russian case on the allegation that the Afghans
began the aggressons on debated ground by
sezing Penjdeh IN June last before General
Alkhanoff moved. The answer is that the Afghans
advanced because they heard that the Russians
were advancing. There was race for Penjdeh and
the Afghans won.
THE SITUATION SUMMED Up.
The situation may be summed up by saying that
IL Russia can be forced to make an immediate
decision it must be- for peace. bat if allowed to
adiplomatize" indefinitely, war may come IN the
end. It seems certain that no Russian force within
military reach of the Afghan frontier is able to cope
with the Anglo Indian army. Russia is not ready
England never so ready 80 well prepared, in
spite of the Egyptian difficulties.
THE RESERVES AND MILITIA
The calling out of the reserves adds 10000 to
the army if all are embodied. 1t is understood that
Lord Harrington wants at present only 2O,oOo.
The postponement of the debate on the Queens
message till after the Easter has no military
significance The preparations proceed as before
General Stewards two corps, $4,000 strong, will
certainly concentrate and advance. The Indian
princes and peoples continue to manifest loyalty.
which enables the bulk of the Indian army to be
thrown northward. Alarmists infer from all this
military ACTIVITY that the Cabinet expects war 1t
does not but means to secure peace by acting as II
war were inevitable.
BAD WORK AT sUAKIM.
The weeks operations near Suakim provoke much
sharper criticism in private than in public. Baron
GrevIle's question in the House OF Lords, whether
General Mcneil after allowing himself to be sur
prised retained the confidence OF the commandments
chief was an ill-tmed expression of the universal
military opinion. General Graham comes in for
hardly less severe censure. He squandeIed time,
men and transport all to TO purpose The troops
though wautonly Over-worked fight admirably, but
their exhaustion delays the advance almost equally
with the loss of cainels. General Graham's doubt
whether tbs Arabs meant fighting exists no longer
THE EGYPTIAN AGREEMENT
The debate in the House of Commons on the
Egyptian agreement has proceeded langudly with
thin House and has attracted little attention
outside The Ministry have brought the finances Of
Egypt into such hopeless state that the House
has no choice between accepting the present con-
vention and precipitating the bankruptcy OF Egypt
The victory of French diplomacy though not COM
plete is substantial. The international guarantee
of the loan is only multiple control in disguise. No
Minister explains why otherwise the Powers should
desire to Incur any obligation.
Mr.. GladStone's and Mr.. Chamberlain's arguments
on this point directly contradict each other. Mr.
Goschen supports the agreement only because
nothing else is now possible. If it were worse than