New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-04-05
RUSSIA REPLYING TO ENGLAND.
SETTLING THE AFGHANIsTAN DISPUTE.

SETTLING THE AFGHANISTAN DISPUTE.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE PROPOSALS OF THE
TWO COUNTRIES.
LONDON April 4-The Pail Mall Gazette this
| afternoon states that the reply of Russia 10
Englands proposals concerning the Afghan frontier
dispute is most conciliatory. The Russians, inc
| Gazette saws, earnestly wish the joint commission
would begin the W ork of settEg the frontier line
as soon as possible They accept the principle OF
the definition of a zone of survey, but instead Oh
| drawing the southern boundary OF this zone at
| what they consider the northern frontier Oh
| Afghanistan. which 10 an imaginary line drawn
across desoate steppe, they propose that the line
| of the zone of survey be carried up to only tue
| natural line of demarcaton existing. namely, the
! Borkus spur of the Psrapamisus. The difference
between the English and the Russian proposals. u
| says IS that the proposed by Russia woulu
include triangular piece OF steppe, twenty TO hity
| miles wide. which would be excluded from the
zone of survey within which the English propose
to confDe the work of the boundary commission
| The Cabinet at a council to-day approved the
| agreement made between the Ameer OF Aighahls'an
aud the Earl of Dulerin. Abdurrahmans
expression of a desire TO visit England having been
reported by Lord Duhern to the Home Govern
ment the viceroy has been instructed TO invite the
| Ameer TO come to London as a guest OF the Crown.
| The Russian response cannot be deemed "a complete
| acceptance, or anything more than a provisional
acceptance.
| NJ de Giers In answer to Earl Granvile's pro-
posal that Russia agree to confne the dispute be-
| tween the two Powers TO zone including all the
debatable points and to be call the Zone oi survey,
as deimited by England in the proposal, agrees 10
do so provided the zone be extended southwark to
the foot of the Paropamsus range of mountains
This request on the part of Russia literally trans
| lot ad hat yI
discussion TO zone containing all the points adj
| mitted by England to be debatable provided this
zone is so extended as 70 include all the territory
which Russia desires TO make debatable Baron
de Siaal, the Russian Ambassador to England, mas
| sent separate communication 10 Earl Granville.
The contents of this have not yet been made public
| bat ii is reported what is considered good
| authority that the De Staa document Is an oihcal
Russian utterance on the subject of the irritation
caused TO Russia by the military and anti-Russan
demonstrations India 1t is also stated that this
document urges England to agree with Russia to
abandon all military preparations and demonstra-
tons IN reference to the Afghan frontier until the
the conclusion or failure of the pending negota-
| tions.
Russia continues to declare that she Is making
| no preparations for war at the border. Baron de
Staal afirms strongly 10 that effect. But all these
| protests arc looked upon here as diPIo-
|
Teheran report that large Of Russian troops
continue to pass through TiGis southwark The
| English Consul at Batoum makes similar report.
The reports from both to the effect that
| these large bodies of troops supposed TO be on
their way to Merv OF Meshed. The British Gov
ernment has also received Trustworthy information
10 the effect that there has been recently an immense
! increase in the number of Russian troops III
Turkestan. These latter adviccs estimate that the
| plumber of Russian soldiers already stationed IN
! line between Baku and Sarakhs is at least GJ,OOO
The nature of the response from d. dc Giers to the
English proposals makes it necessary to prolong
| the period of correspondence between the two
Powers on the Afghan question.
The reports which are received from the Earl Of
Dufcrin indicate that the negotiations in progress
at Rawaipndi between him and the Ameer Of
| Afgbanistan are satisfactory, to the Indians and
apparently to the Afghans. but they also indicate
that the negotiations tend so strongly toward a
| Joint military alliance between England and the
Ameer that their su ecess may be acceDted by Russia
as a menace The Earl Of Dutlerin, for instance to-
day reports that the Ameer has obtained from
| India q special subsidy for the maintenance OF an
Afghan garrison at Herat Of sufficient strength TO
ensure the integrity of that entire district In
addition to this, it has been decided to give
Abdurrahman the services of an English engineer
to superintend the work of constructing series Of
fortresses which have been decided OH as a line OF
defence along the northern frontier or course 1t is
stipulated that these forresses are to be garrsoned
and defended by Afghans exclusively. but Russia
| NAV find cause for irritation in the scientific and
professional military aid openly and officially given
| bv England Again. Lord Duiterin reports that Oh
tie part of Great Britain it has been agreed that
| the English shall construct . railway from Bolan
| to Candahar, and military road from Candahar To
Herat: and in addition TO all this. link the line of
| fortresses between Palkh. Herat aud Candahar
| together by "a telegraph system. IL is feared by
careful observers that Russia may at least continue
| 10 juggle with the Afghan question under the
assumption that the Rnwalpindi council is really
| arranging compact with England a. the cOntroll-
ing spirit of hrE of which the Ameer is only
| dummy. ~
| The Russian Army organ the SUd, published at
ST Petersburg. renews its menace against England.
1t declares broadly that If the English advise that
result OF English counsel and with English