New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-01
THE RUSSIAN ANSWER.

Russia's reply to Epgland's note il conceded
both at st. Petersburg and London to be favor
able. The text has not been disclosed. but the
tone is distinctly pacific. England has
demanded a speedy meeting OF the JOINT
Boundary Commission and the vigorous
prosecution of its labors. This is n concession
which Russia can make with dignity since the
appointment of the Commission was first
proposed BY NJ. de Giers. General Zelenoy,
who is now at Tihis, has been awaiting orders
to join Sir Peter Lumsden on the frontier; and
NJ. Lessar, the second Commissioners, has no
longer any valid reason for remaining in
London. The Russian Government has only To
instruct it, two Commissioners to cooperate
with the Brtish-I Indian agents in defining the
frontier, and the excitement on both sides Will
be alayed Months may pass before final
decision is reached, and the question at issue
may never be settled ut all; and during the
interval there may be railway building and
extensive preparations for war on both sides.
The acceptance OF the British invitation may
thus prove a hollow diplomatic truce. lt Will
remove, however, all danger of immediate
hostilities. and will encourage hopes of per-
manent peace.
NJ >thSuI 10 tHbihtNi "ho P'''""'N '''
Transcaspian Railway and completed the
surveys as far as Sarakhs. He is the author of
various geographical works on Central Asia,
and in any negotiations respecting the frontier
between Turkestan and Aighanlstan his
technical knowledge and diplomatic skill will
be of great value to the Russian Government.
His utterances since his arrival in London have
been markedly pacific. He has declared that it
would be- mGnstrOus If there were bloodshed
between two great nations on account OF few
deserts, salt lakes and pastures in worthless
district barely fifty miles wide. His views as
communicated to The Cologne Gazette are
interesting as embodying tho Russian
statement OF the Central Asian question. He
denies that there is any intention of completing
the railway between Askabad and Sarakhs,
and aifirms that the line must first be laid to
Merry and thence along the Murghad Valley
southwark. He believes that it would be
possible to finish such railway in three weeks
between Herat and Merv, but insists that as a
good Russian he will be the last to recommend
q project that would open markets for the
British in the south in his judgment, the
engineers will first connect Merv with the
Caspian and then complete the circuit of
Turkestan, by passing nOrthward to Bokhara
and Tashkcnd, thereby binding the markets
together and facilitating the exchange of
products.
The English dread of IN invasion of India
NJ. Lcssar pronounces so unreasonable ~ TO be
outside tho domain of practical politics. He
maintains that Russia requires peace
tranquility and order in Central Asia, and that
instead of fighting over few paltry miles OF
sand and several thousands of Turcomans it
wond be better to have reasonable boundary
established and to have the words go out over
the deserts: I" The Russians and the English
have forever settled their disputes" NJ.
Lessar's sincerity is naturally questioned in
England. The fact that his Government first
proposed and then neglected to go on with the
frontier negotiations, and that pending the
diplomatic adjustment of the questions at issue
positions in the debatable district were seized
by the staff, discredts his plea for peace.
Nevertheless. he may prove genuine peace
maker when he returns to the fronCler