The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-05-03
Peace or War Remains al Uncertainty
Russia Advancing - England
Negotiating and Making
Preparations.
Atte mpts to DIscredit Sir Peter
Lumsden-Japaneee Village Ex-
hibition in London De.
stroyed by Fire.
ENGLAND'S POSITION.
a General Summary of Her Troubles With
Russia IN Asia-Her European Pros
poets. Etc.

LoNDoN, May 2-To-night the Anglo-Russisn
situation is one Of uncertainty. There is aoso-
lutely no war news, no peace news, and no news
Of truce. No enc, that is. no one outside OF min
isterial circles, IS warranted in drawing any con
clusion whatsoever from this abnormal con iition
OF affails i should be borne in mind when sun
ming up The situation that up to the pres mt mo-
ment Russia has gvsn the Anglo Saxon not an
item of news. Russia has acted, has advanced
has waged tattle has taken territory. but Russia
has said nothing. England has done all the talk
Ing, has made all the explanations; hence it is
that the Car has had no retrsctions to make.
But Mr.. Gladstone's genius for making excuses
has been supreme that in the effort to talk
eeainst blows last Monday evening he succeeded,
without saying snything. in making the greatest
speech OF his life, aud for making it got a COM
pletey silenced opposition. an unlimited credi.,
and S55.oo0,CO0 in cash. For forty-eight hours
after the Prime Minister'S Grafton every lingo in
England wss q Gladstone man and every Quaker
prayed Tor bim as a man OF peace. The war party
were sure he meant 10 simply wipe the Russians
statesman who realizes the value OF human life
After days it is founo that the Premiers address is
stin an oracle. II it IS 10 be peace the speech
able peace. IL it is TO be war the speech dwelt
upon the necessity OF maintaining British honor,
SO 1t happens tonight that Herat, the very
center of old world news no more can with any
degree OF certainty be saio tnan that the Anglo
Russian situation is one OF uncertainty. IL i3
probable that the situation will remain Just It
is until after the second council at Gatzcnina.
Two indications as to what the change in the
situation, when il comes, will be. present them
selves TO the careful observer. The London news
papers which oftenst speak by ministerial inspIra-
ZION, began to day to dIsparage General Sir Peter
Lumsden, the chle1 OF the British Afghan Boun-
darp Commission. Ii was Sir Peters word which
Mr.. Gladstone took upon which to base the charge
that the Russians had violated fsitn with England
hv nv TX hiSfi 1niC a inn
constituted d powerful force 10 the war fever
among Englishmen. To day 1t is added that
It is even said that he was .purposeiy
mistaken" Some friends OF the Government
go even so lar as TO say that Peter lied 10 his
is well known that Lumsden belongs to the war
party in india 1t is not quites0 generally known
inat the Inosn war party is principally controlled
by Brit sh military officers, who never had q
chance TO distinguish themselves in war, and who
are desperately anxious to win recognition in bat
advance, and il is saio Sir Peter has been their
spokesman. Therefore II the Prize Minister of
England should come souarely out and announce
that England in the Afghan controversy with
Russia had been deceived by English sgents, many
persons would OF be sufprised
On the Other hand Ii Is said that the Cabinet
having found good reason to abandon their war
like attitude, mean TO save themselves by sacri-
fcing their Peter for furnishing them with belh
pears 10 be good authority that tie report pup
lshed to-day 10 the effect that Russia had accept
ed Eneland's proposal to have the question as to
OF March, violated the agreement Of the nth of
March submitted 10 arbitration is untrue. The
announcement is also made that a conference be
tween Sir Edward Thornton. British En- bassador
al ST. Petersburg, and NJ. De Giers, Russian m mis-
ter OF Foreign Affairs, is arranged for Monday
next The chief result OF this important inter
view is expec' ed TO be the announcement of the
frat positive information or statement what
the Russian diplomatic action is TO be.
Although there is in both the British and Russian
Ministerial circles here belief That the confer
ence Will lead 10 an amcsble agreement yet in
VIII net accept the English proposals 1t is
thought that the result Will De more British CON
cessions and further Russian advantages
That portion OF the English press which has
hitherto been the most aggressive is now the least
aggressive no the most ophmlSt. Whie all this
couesp ondence continues between London anf
ST. Peiersturs. there is no cessation of toe tre-
mendous preparations and concen ations for ac
tive warfare on either side. All this points to an
NJ. De 6iers has already suggested to Sir Edward
Thornton that during the discussion OF the ques-
tlon Of the observance of the agreement of
limiting the disputed Afghan frontier
proceeded. Ii is said that the Russian Minister
limitation the Russian troops shall be Withdrawn
from PepJdeh. IL is added. however. that in tnls
that in case OF a doubt OF the commissioners as TO
the rightiul boundary the Lessar lines shall be ac-
ceped as the correct ones. and he insists that the
commission shall be confined in its work to purely
typographical considerations. These would al
most certainly favor Russia
On the part of England N. De Giers asks that
pending the decision of the commission
the Afghans retire from their present
occupation of Zulhcsr. 1t is also reported
that 81. De Giers asks that during the work of de
Limitation no Indian advance shall he permitted
beyond Quetta. The first army corps OF India
has prepared 10 begin Its march towards Pishin
next week, In the diplomatic contest for alliance
1t would appear that England is making better
progress ih, n Russia. Beside the permission 10
pass her ships through the Dardan elles, it is
stated that England has secured an understanding
which secures for her the friendly neutrality OF
Persia in the event OF war. The Shah OF Persia
IL is SAID. has already forbidden the Russians
from conveying waT-like material across Persian
territory, even near AstTebed.
1he British agent at TeheTan reports that Eng
land can secure any friendly alliance she desires
with the Shah for a British guarantee OF the in
tegTity of Persian territory and money grant,
Wheiber the Shah would be able to prevent BIS.
sia from violating the terms of the alliance is,
however, another question.
Letters from Sophia state that Bulgarian agents
ere busily engaged in the work OF fomenting, in
Russian interest an uprising among the Macedo-
mans, Bulgerians and AlOsnians in the event OF
forward movement of Greek troops from the
forth or south.
From Ca,taro comes the news that all the Aus
trian gsIIisons are being reinforced. A number
OF Albanian committees have been formed in
Italy to assist in resisting any Austrian advance
There Is little stir in domestic politics. The
Parnelliies are engaged in the preparation OF a
plan for work in the coming electoral campa 'gn,
but they do hot seem TO be enthusiastic In the
work. But thirty-fve members of the party
called 10 formulate plank OF operations. The
Irish party seek TO retain fifty of their present
seats in Parliament By the election OF new candi-
dates.