The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1885-04-14
The British Cabinet Consider, tho Ex-
PLANTATION.

PLANTATION.
LONDON, April 14-AH the ministers met
in council at Mr.. Gladstone's official resi-
dence in Downing street at noon Monday
The Russian version of the causes which led
up to Gen Komaroh's recent attack on the
Afghans near Penjdeh was thoroughly dis
cussed. The official explanations of the at
fair were laid before the ministry, ami iC il
understood on reliable authority they were
adjudged entirely unsatisfactory. The coun-
Gil then decided that preparations for war
should continue, and that the most vigorous
efforts for that end should be put into opera
tion at once.
Instructions have been telegraphed to Sir
Peter Lumsden to transmit TO Lond on as
quickly as possible his report and that OF
Capt Yates on the conflict on the KushK
river. At the various military and naval
stations preparations for war continue to
be vigorously made. The Russian eXplana-
ton Of the late battle does not seem to in
crease the feeling that there will be no war;
on the contrary, the general opinion upon
the streets seems to Lee that the action OF
Russia since that battle has largely decreased
the chances of a peaceful settlement of tie
difficulties
Gladstone, in the house of commons Mon,
day afternoon, stated that the government,
upon the receipt from Russia of Gen. Komar-
offs explanation of the Penjdeh incident,
had telegraphed to Sir Peter Lumsden for
information as to the CORRECTNESS of the
Russian commanders justification of his
conduct in attacking the Afghans Glad
stone also announced that the gov
eminent had received a full report of
tba ~.
tween the earl of Dufferin, British viceroy
Of India, and Abdurrabman Khan, the
ameer Of Afghanistan, in the councils re-
Gently heidi between them at Rawu- Pindi
These communications, the premier added,
were entirely satisfactory to the govern
ment. Explaining the delay Of the govern
ment in reaching final decision with Russia,
Gladstone said the reports Of the Russian
officers who took part in the Penideh affair
and thoss of the English who witnessed the
engagement differed SO materially in sub
stance and effect that the government felt
obliged to make an independent inquiry
This was proceeding now, and the govern
ment was doing everything in its power
toward ascertaining the facts. Russia
had, the premier admitted, failed
to- answer the material parts
Of England's communication sent on
thetday Of the receipt of the news of the
battle. In response to other inquiries Glad
stone said he expected to soon receive
further communications about Gen. Komar-
offs action from de Giars, the Russian for
eign minister
In the lords the earl Of Salisbury, leader
OF the Conservative peer, asked the govern
ment if it had learned of the report that
there was another engagement between the
Russians and the Afghans on the Afghan
frontier, and if the government knew
whether the report was true or not. Earl
Granville, foreign minister, answered for the
government that it had nothing to add to the
official statement made by Mr. Gladstone in
the house of commons.
The Marquis of Harrington, secretary of
war, in moving reply to the queens mes
sage suinmoning the..resorves, stated that he
was unable yet to speak concerning the
military measures under consideration by
the government, because recent events had
modified the views of the Indian govern
ment concerning the number of reinfore-
ments required. He hoped to submit to the
commons a vote of credit next Monday,
when, perhaps more might be said