Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-03-17
FOREIGN NEWS.
RUSSIA AND ENGLAND.
Speak Nar-Report that u Con.
alct Has Occurred.


NJ. Lssssr, Russian member of the Afghan
Boundary Commission, in an interview, yes-
terday, stated that Russia had no designs
upon Herat, which belongs TO the Afghans,
according 10 the terms framed in 1872. He
said that he hoped to see a pacific solution of
the difficulty, and had no fear of collision
between the Russians and Afghsns, even
should the advance forces of Russians make
an attack, such MISUNDERSTANDING as the
present one, Lasssr thought, ought not to
form cssus belli, and would not, unless
one country greatly desired il. He thought
ii probable that the Russian troops were con-
centrated in the Caucasus, and that when
the preliminary negotions were completed,
Gen. kemeroff would be ready to join Sir
Peter Lamsden in fixing the frontier. Lessar
has come TO London to assist Baron de Stssl.
and is likely to be recalled at any time.
CALCUTTA, March l6.
There are reports here that an actual col
lision has occurred between the Russians and
the Afghans. The government is very con-
servauve concerning the frontiers.
LONDON. March l6.
Advices from Calcutta report that the tea
and indigo districts in ladis are severely suf-
fering from drought.
The government has suspended for one
year the discharge of soldiers eligible for the
raserve force, and also transfers from the
army in India TO the reserves, The Calcutta
government is about to send battery OF
mountrin guns, a battery of heavy artillery
and 5000 Suiier rifles with 250 rounds of
ammunition for each as a gift to the Ameer
of Afganistan.
The Times expresses the belief that Gen
komoroti has gone from Askabad to the dis
puted territory, and says if the Russian, are
nj In, in hv trin
shall have war, little later on, with the
Ameer of Afghanistan, disgusted with our
folly, and Russia strengthened by the valua-
Bile positions gained
In the House of Commons this afternoon
Gladstone answered to questions regarding
the settlement OF the Russia Afghan frontier
difficulty. He said the only foundation he
had for announcing that an amicable agree
mt Mt had been arrived at was promise
wired by NJ. de Giers, Russian minister OF
foreign affairs from st. Petersburg, March
9th
Lord Edmund Fitz Maurice, under foreign
secretary, said that England had protested
against the treatment of lead by France as
a contrabsnd of war.
Gladstone, answering several interroga-
tions concerning the exact nature of the an
ncunced agreement with Russia, he said
stated Friday last, that no further advances
should be made in Afghanistan. The state
ment of this agreement the premier admitted
was based on an interchange of communica-
ton between Russia and England carried or
through Sir Edmund Thomaston, British am
bassador at ST, Petersburg To obliviate any
possible misunderstanding between Her
Majestv's government and the Gear, Earl
Granvill Saturday last wired Sir Edward
Thornton, asking him to ascertain whether
or not NJ De Giers endorsed, as a correct
statement made by Gladstone of the agree
ment made with Russia. As yet no reply
has been received to Saturdays message.
Lord Harrington explained that the Rus
slams occupy Katan and Akrabat, and that
the Russ ans occupy Peniedah He refused,
on the ground of public policy, to make any
further disclosures.
In the House of Commons this evening
the government announced that telegram
had been received from St Petersburg fully
confirming Gladstone's view of the Anglo
Russian arrangement regarding out-posts on
the Russian Afghan frontier.
BERLIN March l6.
Prince Bismarck, it is stated, has, ever
since the amiciahe adjustment of the Anglo
German colonial dispute, been actively exert
Ing all his influence with Russia TO avert the
threatened war with England.
DR.. Armenius Vambery, professor OF Ori-
entail languages in the University of Pesth,
asserts that Pendjeh and the whole country
between the Henri road and Herat, is row
and has been for the last three centuries, an
integral port of Afghanistan. Prof. YAM
berry is the greatest living author of standard
literature upon the country and people d-
rectly affected by the present Russian ad
vance. and spent the time between 1860 and
1864 travelling among them.