The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-05-12
ENGLAND AND RUSSIA.
The Former Beginning to Understand What
Is Really Meant

The Former Beginning to Understand What
Is Really Meant.
LONDON, May 11.-Not till yesterday had the
English public been allowed to know what the
arbitration agreement with Russia really meant
Mr.. Gladstone announced it to the House of
Commons Monday, in terms so ambiguous
that Sir Stafford Northcote Immediately asked
what was the precise point to be referred to the
arbitrator. There was no answer from Mr.
Gladstone The answer now arrives from St
Petersburg. Russia evidently thinks that it is
for her interest to make known the terms of set
tlement which Mr.. Gladstone thought it for his
interest to conceal as long as possible. The
Gear calmly announces that General Komaroff
acted in entire accordance with his instructions
and that he was not forbidden to advance, but
only forbidden to occupy Penjdeh. Russia, there
FORE takes upon herself the entire responsibility
for General Komaroff's action, but since the
British Cabinet thinks that the Russian Cabinet
ought according to the agreement, to have or
dered General Komaroff to abstain from all
attack, Russia is willing to submit the interpre-
tation of the agreement to an arbitrator. In the
meantime negotiations respecting the frontier
have been resumed; the Russians remain in DOS
limitation.
The ST. Petersburg and Moscow papers all the
week have been saying that arbitration is
comedy; we now see who looks comic TO them
NJ. Katkoff remarks in the Moscow Gazette that
arbitration is simply respectable means of
closing the incident to which Russia assented in
order to find an honorable issue for Mr.. Glad
stone out of his difficulties in consideration Of
his feelings and former policy toward Russia.
The continental press, though puzzled to know
what arbitration meant, took similar view;
Berlin and Paris agreed that England had given
way; Vienna, the one European capital, except,
perhaps Rome, which hitherto had shown spirit
friendly to England, regarded this agreement as
a surrender.
=. Everybody ejoices over the prospect of peace.
Few seem to regret that it has been obtained by
what they regard as humiliation for England
The feeling in England at first one of perplexity
is daily hardening into hostility and anxiety
about the ultimate result of peace obtained in
this singular manner Lord Randolph Churchill
at once struck the key note efor his own party,
denouncing the action of the Ministry as
base and cowardly surrender. Others employ
less violent epithets, but dislike the policy
adopted the radicals and purely ministerial Lib
erals excepted Russia, in fact, scores every
point in the game; while pretending to negotiate,
she occupies the debated territory, pledging her.
self, on March 16 not to advance, and declaring
that she had ordered her generals to avoid con-
flict, she let loose General Komaroff and slaugh-
tered the AfghanS. Required to apologize she
refused, and asked TO arbitrate on the Penideh
incident. He has consented to refer not the
Penjdeh incident, but the Interpretation of the
agreement.
Such reference can have no practical result it
can not deprive her of one foot of territory, nor
disturb the immense prestige she has won in
Asia and also in Europe. She refuses to pledge
herself not to advance TO Herat or beyond the
frontier now to be drawn almost exactly on M.
Lessar's line.
No wonder there is dismay in India, and dis
gust in England. The recall of Sir Peter Lums-
den, though probably not demanded by Russia,
is sure to be considered in Asia one more visible
token of Russian triumph. 1t is not less trl-
umph because won by fragrant perfdy, nor is
immediate peace yet quite certain, or permanent
peace probable. What England gains is a
prieve What Russia gains besides everything
else, is time to complete the railways to the
frontier.