The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-05-04
RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.
The Prospects for Peace Very
Much Brighter.
Russia Accepts the Principle Of
Arbitration.
The CZarina Assisting IN the
Peace Negotiations.

LONDON, May 2-An inspired article in the
Daily News confirms the Standards report
that England bad proposed to submit to arbi-
tration by any Eupean sovereign the question
OF who violated the agreement of March 17Eh.
The Daily News adds that the Czar favors
arbitration, and ignores the individuality of
Gems. Lumsden and Komaroff.
Many shipowners in the north of England
are uniting in pledge to refuse to sell vessels
to agents of the Russian government,
The English government has been in conf
Dental communication with Austria respect
ing the policy of the latter in the event OF war
between England and Russia,
The Berlin papers think that Russia will not
agree to submit the Afghan dispute to royal
arbitration.
The captains of several Russian vessels at
Liverpool have received orders to leave port
without waiting for q load.
Seventy sisters of charity have been ordered
to join Gen. Komaroff's army to aid in caring
from st. Petersburg, rs from Moscow and 10
from Odessa.
The Czar has sent 800 gendarmes to Merv.
The Russian paper Svet is persistent in urging
the seizure Of Herat by Russia.
Advicss from Odessa state that it is reported
there that the Russian government has de-
clded to separate the Trans-Caspian province
rom the goVernmentsot the Caucasus, and to
establish a general government of Turko-
menia, with Merv as the capital.
A Tirpul dispatch dated the 29th ult,, SAYS
that Gen. Komaroff and Col. Alhikanoff have
gone from Sarakhs to Zalfcar.
Five regiments of soldiers and twelve tons
OF ammunition and military supplies left Sc
bastapol yesterday for Batoum.
IL Is o1nciaiiy announced that 1t will proba-
bly, be found necessary to prohibit vessels en-
terlng Fort Phillip, the seaport Of Melbourne,
between sunset and sunrise.
The admiralty authorities have chartered
altogether 140 merchant vessels of various
q ula Vd ..-.sAL
the Peninsular and Oriental Steamship Com
pany for the conveyance to India by mail
steamers OF troops to strengthen the Indian
garrison: The first contingent will start next
wednesday. The steamer State Of Nebraska
has been chartered as an armed cruiser and
the steamers Pelican and Duke of Devonshire
as troopships. The reserves who are going to
India have been ordered to be in readiness in
fortnight. The admiralty has purchased the
powerful tug Indra, and has chartered the
Guion line steamer Abyssinia and the Allan
line steamer Peruvian for troopships.
The admiralty's arrangements provide for
the immediate dispatch of IL, 900 troops to In
dia, If needed The government has ordered
the governors OF naval stations on the Medi-
terranean to send reports of what stores are
needed, and they will be Immediately sup
piled. The government continues to engage
fresh artisans to push the work at the dock
yards.
Russian papers continue to repudiate the
idea OF submitting the Pendjeh affair to an in
quiry, or of referring the dispute to arbitra-
tion.
The London Standard says: Whether the
reply of Russia be pacific or not, it must be
borne in mind that the struggle OF Russia for
supremacy in Asia has begun. The Orientals
have keen eyes, and judge great deal by ap-
pearances. The struggle is not one Of frontiers
or OF fine points, but OF international morality.
1t is competition for influence, credit and pres
tigo, and the side that sacrifices its prestige
throws away wantonly the wsapon that in
Asiatic warefare is found to be of keenest
edge and most trusty temper.
Advices from Tirpul, dated April 28th says:
Further Russian movements are reported. 1t
Is stated that the Russians have occupied Kill.
maur, on the Kashk river, with q body of
Iekke horsemen and are busy making mill
tary road to Merucbak.
A dispatch from Tirpal, dated April 23d,
says that the Afghans are enraged against the
British, and accuse Sir Peter Lumsden of de-
serting them, as the Russians did in 1878. The
Afghan member of the frontier commits
was sameful for the British to encourage the
Russians at PeDdjeh, and afterward to abstain
from rendering any assistance.
A hastily called cabinet council was held
thiseyening. It is said important kilograms
from Sir Peter Lumsden, the British conmis-
sioner, and Sir Edward Thornton, the British
ambassador st st. Petersburg, were the cause
OF the speedy summons of the ministers to the
council.
BRUSSELS, MAY 2.-Ls Nord, in an editorial
upon the condition of the relations OF Russia
and England. says: No Eelf-respectipg govern
ment could submit the questions at issue to ar
bitration. II would be impossible to find COM
petent and impartial judges possessing the
elements requisite to insure an equitable de-
cision.
ST. PETERSBURG, May 2.-The North Ger
man Gazette says that it is credibly informed
a II 70 Nha
action of England is retrograde movement
which she seeks to make as decently as posi-
Die. The Gazette in commenting upon this
information expresses itself as skeptical about
the situation being so favorable for peace as
indicated.
LONDON, May 3.--Earl Granville stated after
the cabinet council that from the latest
advices the government had there was every
reason to believe that a pacific settlement
will be arrived at with Russia. 1t is now
known that the council was called to consider
a despatch just received from Sir Edward
Thornton stating that Russia has accepted the
principal English proposal to submit to arbi.
tration the questisn of the responsibility for
the violation OF the agreement of March 17th.
The cabinet council of Saturday had under
consideration despatch received from Sir
Edward Thornton, British minister to Russia,
stating that NJ. DeGiers, Russian minister of
foreign affairs, asked for time in which to dis
cuss and interpret the agreement of March
18th before deciding whether arbitration was
repaired to settle the pending difficulties. AS
the result of the cabinet discussion Earl Gram
Vile intimated his willingness to defer laying
OF the dispute before third power for settle
meut provided M. DeGiers admitted the urin
ciple of arbitration.
A further communication from Sir Edward
Thornton was received at the foreign office to-
night. 1t is reported the English minister
states in this despatch that Russia accepts the
principle of arbitration and a cabinet council
has been summoned for tomorrow. The
Czsrina, whose influence is nearly absolute
over the Czar. is actually assisting in the peace
negotiations.
SNLA, May 3.-Full details of the Pepideh
affair have been received here. They are re-
garded as confrmatory of the view that the
Russian attack on Afghanistan was uppro-
voked.
LONDON, May 4.-The News says in an ed
itorial today that the prospects for peace have
been much clearer and more Iamply confirmed
within the last 48 houas.