The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-03
The Real Situation Known Only by Members
of the English and Russian Ministries
and Persons in Their Confidence.
Efforts to Cast Discredit Upon General
Lumsden and His Reports.
A Feeling that the Pending Negotiations
Will Result in Further Concessions on the
Part of England's Cabinet.
AN UNCERTAIN SITUATION.
No News, Either of War Peace-Specula-
tions as to What May Happen.


No News, Either of war or Peace-specula-
tions as to What May Happen.
LONDON, May ITO night the Anglo Russian
situation is one of uncertainty. There is abso-
lutely no war news, no peace news and no news
of truce. No one, that is, no one outside Of
ministerial circles, is warranted in drawing
any conclusion whatsoever from this abb
normal condition of affairs. 1t should
be borne in mind, when summing up the situa-
ton, that up to the present moment Russia has
given the Anglo-Saxon not an item of news.
Russia has acted, has advanced has waged bat
tie, has taken territory, but Russia has said
nothing. England has done all the talking, has
made all the explanations; hence it is that the
Car has had no retractions to make. But
Mr. Gladstones genius for making excuses has
been SO supreme that in the effort
to talk against blows, last Monday evening,
he succeeded, without saying anything, in max
ing the greatest speech of his life, and for maxi
ing it got a completely silenced oppo-
sition, an unlimited credit, and $685.
100000 in cash. For forty,eigbt
hours after the Prime Minister'S grafton
every lingo in England was Gladstone man,
and every Quaker prayed for him as man OF
peace The war party were sure he meant to
simply wipe the Russians out of Asia.
The peace folk said "There is a statesman
who realizes the value of human life.
After several days it is found
that the Premier's address is still an oracle.
If it is to be peace the speech urged every hon
orable effort to secure an honorable peace; il
it is to be war, the speech dwelt upon
the necessity of maintaining British honor.
So it happens tonight that here at the very
center of the oldworld news no more can, with
any degree of certainty, he said, than that the
Anglo Russian situation is one of uncertainty.
1t is probable that the situation will remain just
as it is to night, until after the second council
at Gatschina.
Two indications as to what the change in the
situation, when it comes, will be, present them
selves to the careful observer. Tbe London
newspapers which oftenest speak by
ministerial inspiration began today to dis
parage 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 Rus
SLAMS had violated faith with England, by occu-
uted powerful force to the war fever among
Englishmen. TO day it is added that
Sir Peter was mistaken in each report. It is
even said that he was ''purposely mistaken"
Some friends of the government go even
SO far as to say that Peter lied
to his superiors, and that he lied
without purpose 1t is well known
that Lumsden belongs to the war party in India.
1t is not quite so generally known that this In
dian 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 saw their opportunity in the
Russian advance, and it is said Sir Peter has
been their spokesman. Therefore. If the
Prime Minister of England should como
squarely out and announce that England, in the
Afghan controversy with Russia, has been de-
ceived by English agents, many persons
would not be surprised. On the other
hand it is said that the Cabinet, hav-
ing found good reason to abandon
their warike attitude. mean to save themselves
by sacrificing Sir Peter for furnishing them
with bellicose messages.
be good authority, that the report, published
to-day to the effect that Russia had accepted
England's proposal to have the ques-
ton as to whether Russia, by fighting the
battle of the 3Oth of March, violated the
agreement of the 18th of March, submitted to
arbitration, is untrue. The announcement is
also made that conference bs1ween Sir
Edward Thornton, British ambassador at ST.
Petersburg, and M. De Giers, Russian Minister
of Foreign Affairs, is arranged for Monday next
The chief result of this important interview is
expected to be the announcement of the first
positive information or statement of what the
Russian diplomatic action is to be.
Although there is in both the British and
Russian ministerial circles here feeling that
the conference will lead to an amicable
agreement, yet in other circles it is
strongly believed that Russia will not
accept the English proposals. 1t is thought that
the result will be more British concessions
and further Russian advantages. That por-
ton of the English press which has
hitherto been most aggressive is now
the least aggressive and the most
optimistic. While all this correspondence con-
tinues between London and ST Petersburg.
there is no cessation of the tremendous prepara-
tons and concentrations for active warfare on
either side. All this points to an ultimate rup-
ture.
The Admiralty's arrangements provide for
the immediate dispatch Of $1,000 troops to
India, if needed. The government has or
dered the governors Of naval stations
on the Mediterranean to send reports Of what
stores are needed, and they viii be Immediately
supplied 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 Penjdeh affair 10 a.