The Rock Island Argus., 1885-04-17
THE CRUEL FACTS.
A PEACE SENSATION KNOCKED
OUT" BY GLADSTONE.
Comment on the Recent Anglo Russian
Agreement--Russia Gets All She Wants,
Now-War Preparations "Exu-
berance" at Cork - Flashes.

LONDON, April l7-Baron de Staal, the |
Russian ambassador Thursday received a |
dispatch from the czar, in which his i'm
perial highness instructs the baron to assure
Mr. Gladstone and the members of the Eng.
lish cabinet that he earnestly hopes that
prompt and simple arrangement will be en-
tered into by which the present threaten
ing aspect of affairs may be overcome and
an amicabie adjustment reached of all cues
tions in dispute
Immediately on the receipt of the dis
patch, the Russian minister FASTENED to Mr.
Gladstones Office and informed him OF
its contents. Mr. Gladstone there
upon requested Baron de Staal tc
wire the car the hearty accept
ance by him and his colleagues of the czar's
kindly and peaceful message, and to assure
his imperial highness that England, on her
part, would put forward every effort con-
sistent with her dignity and rights to effect
peaceful settlement of the differences be-
tween the two countries
GLADSTONE DENIGEs OF Il.
In the house of commons Thursday after
noon Gladstone, in reply to a question, de.
MED the authenticity of the statement pub.
lished by The Daily Telegraph that the czar
had sent him conciliatory telegram He
said no communication had been submitted
to him by Baron De Staal, and therefore the
reports of communications from the car
and favorable replies thereto were un-
founded.
Gladstone further stated that the assertion
that Penjdeh had been ceded to Russia was
entirely unauthorized This announcement
was received by nearly the whole house with
a volley of hooting and jeers, and great con
fusion reigned for some moments When
quiet was restored, Mr. Gladstone, upon
again being questioned, refused to further
enlighten the house upon the present state
OF the diplomatic controversy.
Dispatches from ST Petersburg say the
latest advices received from Gen Komarof1
by the Russian war office confirm the infor.
nation that after the fight of March So on
the kushk river, the Afghans evac-
uated Penjdeh, and fed in the
direction of Herat, and that he has since
been compelled to occupy Penjdeh in order
to prevent the place from falling into the
hands of Anarchists and pillager5, who had
already begun to make incrusions and had
looted and burned portions of the city,
The impres ion has become almost general
that there will be peaceable adjustment of
the Afghan quarrel In spite of this, how.
ever thera<Nas feeling Of uneasineSs in
financial circles Thursday morning. Late
in the afternoon the feeling was firmer.
Russia appears to have gained everything
| for which it has intrigued and fought The
basis of the boundary line is on an average
| eighty miles further south than that now
printed on standard maps. The cession Of
| Penjdeh to Russia is conditional upon the
ameer's consent, but that potentate knows
full we'll that it would be next to abdica
| ton for him to ALLEVIATE both Russia and
England at once.
With reference to the report that the gov
ernment would cede Penjdeh to Russia, The
Standard says: 1--WE cannot bring ourselves
to believe that the government, even to pre-
serve peace, will enter into any arrange
ment leaving Russia in possession of terri
tory unlawfully acquired, adding fresh hu
initiation to the long list England ha:
already endured"
The active enlistment OF volunteer re
serves commenced in India is expected Il
reach over $4,000, wearing uniforms not t.
be compulsory.
Plans are being prepared at Portsmouth
for a new type Of man-of-war, with one tur
ret, carrying 120-ton gun; also six breacl
and six machine guns, and also six aperture
for torpedoes If the plans are approved
the government will invite tenders directly
Charles Marvin, author of "The Russians
at the Gates of Herat, writes to The Time
that he has learned from a semi-offcla
source that the telegraph wire from Aska
bad to Mery is in complete working order
Gen. Komaroff is, therefore, by the assist
ance of his military telegraphs, within
twenty -four hours distance from the czar a
far as communication of orders or informa
tion is concerned. This fact is important il
view of the excuses which the Russian gov
ernment has constantly made for delays il
negotiations namely, that it required ten o
fifteen days to get information to and froH
the front.
1 The government has decided to create
volunteer reserve corps in India of 5000
men. A distinctive uniform will be provide
for these volunteers, but its use will not b
compulsory
In both diplomatic and flnancirl circle;
a great deal of significance is attached t
the fact that Baron De Staal dined Thursda
with Baron Rothschild. The inference
that Russia wishes to make war loan an
that Baron De Staal was the bearer Of a
important financial proposition from th
czar himself.