The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1885-05-20
ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.


continues enyeloped i'll a cloud of uncertainty. 1t
Is absolutely impossible to predict what day may
bring forth. No sooner had the people begun to
become reconciled to the idea of the submission of
prevail questioning the probability of there being
any arbitration, after all the talk to the great
things 1t was about TO accomplish. Tonight no
one Processes to understand what the precise con-
dition of the negotiations with Russia may be-
Every delay in the negotiations has redounded to
Russia's advantage, and while the Ministers have
been talking the Russian railway has been active
" pushed toward the Afghan frontier and the
Russian troops have seized strategic points.
These are the facts, and the average Briton
grows impatient when an attempt is made to be-
little THEN Importance or obscure them with a
cloud of words. The position of affairs tonight
is involved in uncertainty and doubt as to create
a general feeling of insecurity. The feeling that
the proposed arbitration is likely TO fall through
gains weight from the announcement made to-day,
that there is likely TO be considerable delay in
preparing the preliminary details. The delay, it
is said. will be necessary in order to allow the
Cabinets of the two countries to come to decision
upon the precise points to be submit ted to the
arbitration. The members of the Cabinet, it is
thought may find themselves as much at sea iu
deciding what shall be submitted to the arbitrator
as they were in trying to come to an understand
ing in regard to the original difficulty. DE Staa
has proposed that the Whole scheme of arbitration
shall be abandoned in case q comparison of the
evidence regarding the. Penideh affair shall be
found to sustain Russia's Interpretation of the
agreement of March 18th.
Lord Granville is inclined to accede to this pro-
position, but only on condition that Russia
will conclude definite treaty in which that Gov
eminent shall pledge itself not to make any fur
Their advance into Afghanistan.
Herat will be seized no matter what the treaty
stipulatioEs may be- This opportunity is not like
~ TO come Immediately they think, and Russia,
they aver will, for the present, make no advance
beyond the line of the frontier which shall be
agreed upon IN the coming negotiations at Lon
don.
Englishmen familiar with the story of the an
neXatiOn of Mery think they understand what The
asking protection of the Car. There is q shrewd
suspicion ailoat that the importunate asking Tor
protection by the Mervii, with the Gar had no
heart to Withstand, was not quite OF their own
motion. These expressions of opinion and belief,
on the part of the Russians who have to the
secret of the toue of the Baron de Stalls recent
communications TO Lord Granville. The practical
upshOt of the whole matter is that Russia refuses
TO enter into a treaty fixing definite limit to her
territory and binding her to maintenance of the
frontier fixed, unless the rule of the Ameer shall
be SO firmly kept within the line of the frontier
that all tribal disturbances will be promptly re-
pressed, collisions between the Sarakh and the
AfGhans prevented and order at Herat preserved.
LONDON, May 9.-Arbitration scheme is not max
ing rapid progress toward consummation. Although
Russia has not receded frOm,her agreement to sub
init the question in dispute to arbitration, yet il
Is announced that delay is likely to occur in the
ton is possible it is necessary for both Cabinets
to agree upon the specific details to be submitted
to the arbitrator. This may consume considerable
time.
The Times doubts the existence of any docu-
ments or dispatches respecting the AnglO-Russian
agreement of March 18th sufficiently definite for
the purposes of arbitration. Referring to the re-
port from Vienna that Herat is not mentioned in
the negotiations between England and Russia,
the Times says: If the Government thinks the
fate OF Herat may be left TO the carprices of the
Ameer, the treasury Of the local Governor or the
success of pretender, the Ministery had better
tell the country their opinion, and either give
place to others more farseeing, or abstain from
boastiug of their money prestige and half-hearted
measures which deceive nobody, and least of all
Russia.
The STANDARD hopes that the cruel and patroniz-
ing bluntness of the Official Messengers statement
will sting Gladstone into another speech worthy Of
the British Minister. Herat is now the main
question. 4 Russian pledge, however binding,
which wonld only relieve us from diplomatic
squabble, ought to prevent us from taking action
to forestall eyentualities.
LONDON. May 9.-1he reports of new massacres
in the SOudan increase the feeling against the
campaign, and Harrington has been compelled to
promise an early statement of his policy. This is
awkward, as the Government is without n policy,
and merely drifting toward the vote of censure of
which Stafford NOrthcOte gave notice on behalf of
Lord George Hamilton and with the intention of
attracting the Radicals. But the frey speeches of
Salisbury and Churchill irritate even the Radicals
who will probably propose the amendment, which
viii ease their own consciences, but will not hurt
Gladstone. The agitation against the proposed
spirit tax Is becoming serious. Phe Irish men,
beers are united in their opposition aud many
Liberals hold seats at will of the spirit interests
Childers considers the tax vital and will resign if
1t is defeated. The Government will probably
also resign, avoiding the odium which would fol-
low a renewal of the crimes act. Both parties are
making desperate preparations for the next weeks
battles. Gladstone is in the best of health.
LONDON, May 9.-At the Cabinet council held
today the Admiralty was directed 10 cancel fine
orders issued to provide FOR the conveyance of
1900 British troops to India Three steamers had
been chartered for this purpose and we're ready to
sail.
LONDON, May "a dispatch from St. Peters
burg states that the Journal de ST. Petersburg to-
day declares Russia will shortly open negotiations
with England for the appointment of represent
alive of the Russian Government at Calcutta.
LONDON, May 7th.-Edmund Fitz-ldaurice, I'm
der Foreign Secretary, replying this afternoon in
the House of Commons TO Gibson Conservative
General Rdgeway, with Captain Yates and others,
would remain in charge of the Afghan Boundary
Commission, now that Sir Peter Lumsden is COM
ing to London. "The instructions sent to Sir
Peter Lumsden,'' Lord Edmund continued, "do
not cancel his appointment. He has not been
summoned to London to advise with the Govern
ment about the Frontier Boundary Commission.
An escort will remain with General Ridgeway, so
he Will carry on the work of the Commission on
the spot
Granville, in the House of Lords, this after
noon, replying TO a motion by the opposition for
the production by the Government of the papers
in the Russian controversy, used the follow Ian
guage; Il do not believe that if England was 60
ing TO wage war against Russia we should wage it
at disadvantage, and with every advantage in
favor of Russia" Lord Granville denied that the
Governments military police had been a failure,
and denied also that Russia would go to Herat.
TEHERAS, May, 7th.-Adyices from Sarakhs state
that small force of Russians, with four guns, now
occupy Penjdeh. The same advice contains the
statement that the Russians have completely won
over the Sarakh Turcomans. A telegraph line is
now completed to point 10 miles beyond As
kabad. There is apparent lull in Russia pre-
partitions for war. Afghan troops along Bala
Murghab, not having received pay for long time,
are greatly demoraiized.
ST. PETERsBUEo, May 7.-ColoneI Zakrjefski's
report of the battle Of March 30th is Identical with
that Of General komarof. He admits that the
Afghans were armed with poor rifles. but says
their guns were better than those Of the Russians
lie asserts that the Afghan forces numbered 500
men. while there we're only Loo Russian troops.
He brings with him two captured Afghan stand
ards. The Colonel is the hero of the day.
LONDON, May S-am.-The Morning Past as
serts that Earl DuGerin has resigned as Yiceroy
of India, in consequence Of the diastrous effect
upon British prestige in India Of Gladstone's
weak and timorous policy.