New-York tribune., 1885-03-04
ON THE AFGHAN FRONTIER.
ADVANCE OF THE RUSSIAN TROOPS.

A STATEMENT BY EARL GRANVILLE IN THE HOUSE
or LORDS
LONDON, March In the House of Lords this
AFTERNOON, in answof< to questions respecting the
position of the Government on the Russo-Afghan
frontier question, Earl Granville admitted that
the RUSSIAN troops had been advancing in the dis
puet territory of Afghanistan, and when request
ed by England to withdraw from their advanced
posts they refused TO retire Sir Peter Lumsden had
ADVISED the Afghans not to retire from before the
Russian troops but todspute every inch of ground.
and said that the British Government would uphold
them.
Lord Granville was pressed by the Marquis Of
Salisbury concerning the situation in Central
ASIA, and he said that the latest reports received
from SIT Peter lumsden that the Russian out
posts now occupied Tulfkar Pass, about twenty
miles south of uli-Khatum. A post OF rurkomans
was also stationed at Suikhioti a few miles distant
from Pcnjdeh. Lord Granville said that represent
tations had been made to Russia earnestly pressing
her to give stringent orders to her military COM
mander to refrain from any forward movement
which would be likely to bring about COLI
sion between the Russian and Afghan outposts.
In reply to our remonstrances," continued Lord
Granville, Russia declined on February "a to
withdraw her advanced posts ut Saryarla and
Tuifkar Pass, but gave assurance that the Russian
officers had been ordered carefully to avoid con-
flIcts with the AfghaDs and that complications
need be feared in the event only of attacks being
made by the Afghans upon the Russian posts. Sir
Peter Lumsden has exerted himself to prevent col
lIsiOns and has advised the Afghans to maintain
themselves at the posts they now occupy. This
advice has been approved by Her Majesty 3 Govern
ment and Sir Peter Lurnsden has been instructed
to urge the Aighans at the same time to refrain
from advancing beyond their present positions.
Negotiations now in progress between Her
Majesty's Government and Russia for the settle
ment Of the difficulty
The Marquis of Salisbury asked whether the
Russian outposts were within the boundary of
Afghanistan.
Earl Kimberley Secretary of State for India, In
reply. said that the question of the precise bound
ary of Afghanistan was the subject Of the present
negotiations between Russia and England. He had
no hesitation in saying that England regards the
Russian outposts "a within the Afghan boundary.
and that they form u considerable advance in the
direction of Herat.
The Marquis of Lothian asked docs the whole
question of peace or war between England and
Russia depend upon chance squabole between
Afghan and Russian outposts
Earl Granville said that he must have notice OF
the question. The Marquis thcreupon gave notice
that he would repeat the question.
In the House OF Commons to-day Lord Edmund
Fltzmaurce replying to questions regarding the
Afghan frontier, made statement similar TO that
made by Earl Granville, adding that at one point.
six miles beyond Ponjdeh. tho Russian and Afghan
outposts are close together He said that the dis
tance IN a Decline from rulfikar Pass TO Herat Is
nlnety-five miles He declined To say, without no.
ticc of such "A question being given, whether or not
SIR Peter Lumsdcn had advised the Afghans TO
tb.ir M nv forpc
The excitement occasoned by tho strained rela-
tions existing between Russia aud England still
continues British consos have fallen u in con-
se1,seaee of tho erlsis
IL is reported from Woolwich Arsenal that in
military circles il is understood that Tho Govern
ment have arranged to hold IN readiness 10000
troops for service against Russia IN Aighansfan.
England 10 depend for protection upon the re-
serves
he Tine, publishes an important letter the
reported Russian advance toward India. The
letter il from a special correspondent at B'lanur-
CHAN. IL says that when the Russians under Gen.
rral Komaroii and Colonel Alikanoh turned their
attru ton To Pcnjdch. the report spread quickly
throughout AfghanIstln that "a large body OF Rus
sian cavalry was advancing. The garrison at
p.nileh were M once supplied with ammunition
aud they prepared 10 resist the Russians. The
Aighsns, the correspondent AYERS were freuzlcd
with joy at the prospect of war aud chances 10
become religious MARTYRS.
,cncral Komaruh probably influenced by thc
conduct of the Afghaus apparently changed his III
tDntiun and remained az Bulikhatnn. Thence he
sent Colonel Akhanoff with 30 cavalrymcn
toward Penidch. Ahkhanoif halted IN sight of
penideh but when he found that the Turkomans
there did not revolt against the garrison, he sent an
insulting letter 10 the Afghan commander aud then
returned to McIy IL was matter of great sur
prise the correspondent says. that the excited
Afgnans did not attack Colonel Allkhanon and ms
cavalry IL was n narrow escape from hat would
have proved serious complication. The CORE
spoudent concludes his letter with the statement
that the British position III Central Asia ls much
stronger than that OF the russians. lie says that
the Russians know this, aud that atte iirmnoss on
the part OF the English Foreign Office Will soon set
tie the whole matter.
NJ. Lcssar, Of the Russian Afghan Frontier Com
mission will leave London on Monday, the dis
usson of his proposals having closed. There ~ no
Tear ut the Russian Embassy OF war breaking out
between England aud Russia. The Russian Com
mission Will meet the English Commission near
Baamurghab about May TO-
The decline in Russian hves on the Stock Ex-
change since February has been only aquartcr
TO haf.
LONDON March 4.-The Times of to-day commends
the decisive Afghan policy adopted by the Gov
ernment and says: Our nights there are clear be-
yond dispute. Whatever may be necessary for the
safety OF India. England il fully prepared To at
tempt and perfectly able to perform
The standard and other papeIs publish comments
Of q similar character.