St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-05-03
GENERAL REVIEW.
Points Pertaining to the AnglO-
RussO-CrisiS.


LONDON, May. 2.-TO-night the Anglo
Russian situation is one of uncertainty.
There is absolutely no war news, no peace
news, no news Of truce. No one that is
outside of ministerial circles is warranted
in drawing any conclusion whatsoever from
the abnormal condition of affairs. 1t should
be borne in mind, when summing up the
situation, that up to the present moment
Russia has given the Anglo-SaXon not all
item of news Russia has acted has ad-
vanced, has waged battle, has taken terri
tory, but Russia has said nothing. England
has done all the talking, has made all the
explanations; hence it is that the czar has
had no retractions to make. Mr.. Glad
stones necessity for making excuses has
been so supreme that in the effort
to talk against blows, last Monday evening,
he succeeded without saying anything in
making the greatest speech of his life, and
for making it got a completely silenced op-
position, an unlimited credit and $50, ,000,-
900 in cash. For forty-eight hours after
the prime minister's
MARVELLOUS GRAFTON
every jingo in England was a Gladstone
man and every quaker prayed for him as a
man of peace. The war party were sure
he meant to simply wipe the Russians out
of Asia. The peace folk said: ''There is
statesman who realizes the value Of hui
man life," After five days it is found that
the premier's address is still an oracle. If
it is to be peace, the speech urged every
honorable effort to secure an honorable
peace If it is to be war, the speech dwelt
upon the necessity of maintaining British
honor. So it happens tonight that here,
the very center of old world news, no more
can, with any degree of certainty, be said
than that the Anglo-Russian situation is
one of uncertainty. 1t is probable that the
situation will remain as it is tonight until
after the second council at Gatschina.
Two indications as to the nature of what
the change in the situation, when it comes,
will present themselves to the careful OBJ
server.
THE SoUDAN NEWSPAPERS,
which oftenest speak by ministerial inspi-
ration, began to-day to disparage Gen. Sir
Peter Lumsden, the chief of the British
Afghan boundary commission. 1t was Sir
Peters word which Mr.. Gladstone took
upon which to base the charge that the
Russians had violated faith with England
by occupying Pul-i-khisti. Sir Peter also
furnished the report that the cZar'S troops
had advanced upon Maruchok. Both of
elements to the war fever among English
men. To-day it is admitted that Sir Peter
was mistaken in each report. 1t is even
limited that he was purpoSely mistaken.
Some friends of the government go even so
far as to say that Sir Peter lied to his supe-
riors and that he lied with a purpose. 1t is
well known that LumSden belongs to and
sympathiZes thoroughly with the war party
in India. 1t is not quite so generally known
that this Indian war party is principally
controlled by
BRITISH MILITARY OFFICERS,
who have never had chance to distinguish
themselves in war, and who are desperately
anxious to win recognition in battle They
see the opportunity in the present Russian
advance, and it is said that Sir Peter has
been their spokesman. Therefore, if the
prime minister of England should come
squarely out and announce that England,
in the Afghan controversy with Russia, has
been deceived by English agents, many
persons would not be surprised. On the
other hand, it is said that the cabinet, at
having found good reason to abandon their
warlike attitude, mean to save themselves
by sacrificing Sir Peter Lumsden for fur
nishing them with bellicose sentiment.
1t is stated tonight, on what appears to
be good authority, that the report published
to-day &c the effect that Russia had accepted
England's proposal to have the question as
to whether Russia, by fighting the battle of
the 3Oth of March, violated the agreement
of the 18th of March submitted to arbitra-
ton,
IS UNTRUE.
The announcement is also made that a
conference between Sir Edward Thornton.
British ambassador at st. Petersburg, and
NJ. DeGierS, Russian minister of foreign af-
fairs, is arranged for Monday night The
chief result of this important interview is
expected to be the announcement of the first
positive intimation or statement of what the
Russian line of diplomatic action is to be.
Although there exists in both the British and
Russian ministerial circles here belief that
the conference will lead to an amicable
agreement, still in neither circle is any eX-
pectation strongly entertained that the
agreement, whatever it may be, will en-
body any absolute acceptance of the Eng
lish proposals which have been made con-
cerning the Afghan dispute. 1t is thought
that the result will be more British conces-
sions and further Russian advantages.
That portion of the English press which
has heretofore been the most aggressive and
pessimistic is now the least aggressive and
the most optimistic.
The latest reliable advices from st. Peters
burg hold out the idea that the sum total of