New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-17
THE PEACE RUMORS.

The European situation shows real signs OF
clearing. The Car is believed to have sent a
pacific message to London; the British Mn
istry are vaguely reported to be negotiating
settlement on the basis of the cesson OF
Penideh to Russia and the Ameers consent to
a compromise that will leave Herat at the
mercy of the Northern invaders is rashly
assumed to be foregone conclusion. The
abrupt conclusion of peace on such terms as
these would be as startling a surprise as Cen
eral Komaroff's assault upon the Afghan camp.
That hostilities may be averted is not by any
means Incredible, yet pacific solution is
attended with so many difficulties that prema-
ture assurances of a diplomatic adjustment are
to be accepted with hesitation and reserve.
The settlement which the British Government
have been credited with making is apparently
based upon two conditions satisfactory ex-
PLANTATION from General Komarof of the battle
near Penjdeh, and the acquiescence OF the
Ameer in the surrender of his territory by his
ally after his troops have been wantonly
attacked. General Komaroff's dispatches have
not been so conciliatory heretofore as to inspire
confidence that he will succeed in justifying
his course. Indeed, the details of the battle
as they are gradually brought to light magnify
the extent of the Afghan losses and impart to
it the aspect of massacre. The Ameer may be
completely in the hands of his paymasters; but
it is reasonable t. suppose that his reminis-
cences of the pageants of Rawalpndi would
be embittered with resentment If policy OF
surrender were crammed down his throat
The prospects of peace cannot be intellPently
discussed in the absence of information on two
important points. The British Ministry may be
in possession of facts tending to shift the
responsibility for the recent battle from the
Russian commander to the Afghan troops ard
they may also have received secret information
from Lord Dufferin warning them in the
Ameer's name that his subjects cannot be
depended upon to tolerate the presence OF red
coats in Afehanistan. The Government may
have reasons for deferring or avoiding wal
which do not appear on the surface of the cable
dispatches. 1t IS obviously premature, how
ever, to conclude that Mr. Gladstone is willing
to make dishonorable peace by ceding Penjdeh
and exposing England to contumely and con-
tempt throughout the world. Curious as the
vicissitudes of his recent political fortunes
have been, 1t would be fantastic caprice of
what the Tories might term retributive justice,
if the statesman who once denounced Lord
Beaconsfeld fo1 making an empty flourish OF
fighting Russia and for relinquishing an inn
pregnabe Indian frontier for an unscientlic
one, should call out the reserves only to make
craven peace and to consent to boundary that
would leave Herat at the mercy OF the Cars
cavalrymen.
Mr. Gladstones replies to direct questions in
the House of Commons show that the peace
rumors have only a slender foundation. He
declares that no demand for Penjdeh has been
made by Russia and that no assurances have
been given respecting any definite point on the
Afghan frontier. While these assertions do not
preclude the possibility of a peaceful adjust
ment, they dispel the illusion that an under
standing between the two great rivals for
supremacy in Asia can be effected as easily and
as quickly as the Afghan forces were attacked
and oyerpowered at Penjdeh in defiance OF a
Diplomatic truce.