New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-05-08
GLADSTONE Explaining.
THE pENJDEH AFFAIR Misunderstood
RUSSIAN AGGRESSION NOT WITHOUT CAUsE-LoRD
pUFFERIN AND THE AMEER.


RUSSIAN AGGRESSION NOT WITHOUT CAUsE-LoRD
DUFFERIN AND THE AMEER
LONDON, May 7.-Mr. Gladstone replying to
questions in the House of Commons this afternoon,
said that although receipt of the first kilograms
giving an account of it, he had described the Penj
deb affair as an act of unprovoked aggression, still
he had never presumed that the facts in his posses
sion when he made that statement were unques-
tIonable As a matter of fact within twenty -four
hours afterward news came containing important
qualifications of that first received. He had no
doubt, he said that whea the Earl of Dufferin,
British VicerOy IN India, at Lahore, after his re-
turn from the conference with the Ameer at Rawal-
PindI, described the Russian attack as an act of
unproyoked aggression, without any qualifications,
the Viceroy's statement was warranted by the cir
cumstanccs under which he spoke and the knowl-
edge in his possession. But Russia has since denied
that Colonel Alikhanof had ordered the Turco-
mans under his command to make any attack
The report that Colonel Alikhanof had issued such
an order was made TO England by Captain Yate
and his party, who belonged to Sir Peter Lums-
dcn's Boundary Commission and who were in
Penjdeh during the battle. But it had been ascer-
tanned since that neither Captain Yate nor any of
his party were aware of any other foundation for
the report than that of rumor.
Mr. Gladstone said that Lord Dnfferin had ar
ranged with ADdurrahfnan hhan the Ameer OF
AfghanistaD. the bases upon which the British
Government had proceeded in the frontier affair."
and If further communications with the Ameer
upon the subject should become necessary, they
would be made. Mr.. Gladstone refused to saw
whether or not Lord Dutferin approved the course
of the Government in the Afghan dispute,
Lord Edmund Fitzmaurce Under Foreign Secre-
tary, replying TO Edward Gibson, Conservative
Member for Dublin University, stated that General
Ridgway, with Captain Yate and others, would re-
main in charge of the Afghan Boundary Com
mission. now that Sir Peter Lumsden is coming to
London. The instructions sent to Sir Peter
Lumsden," Lord Edmund continued. " do not can
Gel his appointment. He has not beon summoned to
London 70 advise the Government about the
frontier The Boundary Commissioners escort will
remain with General Ridgway. who will carry ON
the work of the commission on the spotD
Earl Granville, Foreign Minister in the Uouse of
Lords this afternoon, replying to a motion by the
Opposition for production by the Government of
the papers in tho Russian controversy used tbe
following language Il do not believe that II
England was going TO wage war against Russia we
should wage IL at a disadvantage and with every
advantage In favor Of Russia" He denied that
the GoyernmenSs military policy had been con-
stant failure, aud denied also that l;ussla would 20
10 Herat The motion for the production Of the
papers was then withdrawn.
The Times, commenting on the attitude of the
Conservatives toward the Government respecting
The Tory leaders as unwise. IL says that Lord
kandoph Churchill was not justified in proposing
70 refuse supplies to the Government. The ap-
proachlng election will give the Conservatives
ample opportunity to arraign the Government at
the bar OF public opinion, and the Conservative
party wii be much stronger II it abstains from
crude and extravagant proposals "The Govern
aent have mismanaged the Afghan business" the