The times., 1897-09-13

London, Sept. 12.-Lord Salisbury owes
his continuance is office more TO the dis
union and ieaiousies of the opposition shan
to the loyalty of his adhcrents, Tne dis
satisfaction is very great. 1t is now ap
parent that the charge of the Liberals
that he uprisings ON the Indian border are
due t., the decision Of the government TO
annex Cmtral is partly. if not wholly, true.
TIE Liberals protested against the de
cision as the wanton attempt to invade
a friendly country and appropriate it.
There was absolutely no reason for it,
Strategic or otherwise, except the wish
OF Lord George Hamilton, thoroughly
incompetent official. The strategic inn
portancc OF annexation was made the
ground for doing it, but, in reality, India
is safer and more easily defended without
it. The British would acquire little more
than wfid and mountainous territory, OF
little yalce, Inhabited by the most fero-
Cious race Of people on earth These
10 England, through che influence over them
OF the Ameer, hut they viii not tameIy
submit To absorption.
BuC the most serious charge against the
government IL that after it had decided
TO annex Chitral, ii made TO preparations
whatever for the uprisings which il must
have known would follow. The immense
diHHinions OF the British in Asia have
been acquired by successive robberies Of
this sort, aud each one has been followed
by upriaings That led 10 war. 1t is per
fecily natural that people, no matter how
humble. should object 10 being conquered
Dy foreigners. ana should resist, whether
It be useless or not.
The movement on the British frontier is
doubtless tIHcruTed with fanaticism; but
the Mad Mullah OF anybody else, could
/ have done little but for this decision OF
| the government. The Sultan Of Turkey has
had MS agents among these people, and has
! distributed presents Ia vishly. II is wonder
! fuI where he gets the money for his whirls
! when he is never able To pay his debts
! 4 few days ago the Afghan sheikh, said
Yohia, was loaded with presents ny him
and v given an autograp aphletter from the
| Sultan IL he Amcer. The Sultan's efforts
J VIII, probably, be without result in the
! latter quarter.
The Aneer is completely in sympathy
with the Suitla's aspirations. but he has
studied the situation very carefully and
! reached the conclusion that ths undertake
] ing is too desperate. After considerable
dalliance ne has become strongly pro
/ British, and is vigorously dU work to
weaken the Wild tribes. His influence. in
four or five days, has done more than the
| threats OF the whole British army Th
tribesr5ea are again quiet if not paralyzed
hut this is nof guarantee for the future.
| The slightest encouragement from the in
| terinrewould again set the border in 4
| blaze
II has been nearly three years since
the European powers undertook TO dis
oipline the Turk and relieve the Armea-
ians. The horrible atrocities inflicted
on the latter sent a shock through the
NToTld that drove these European govern
mcnts to apparent action. Since then ths
Cretan affair has occurred, and the wal
between Greece and TurEey, and tile
latter has conquered a large slice of
European territority, but not an Armen
ian has been relieved. 1t is doubtful il
/
persecution 10 which these unfortunate
people have been subjected If so, il
has been spas nodic and temporary.
They are prosecuted as mucn as ever the.
were, only the Turks have the shire wtines
70 invent plausible excuses and devices {,
palliate their barbarism Ormanian, tn
Armenian patriarch, appointed by the SUI
tan because lie W as traitor to his rae
and religion, has just been decorated wit
the Grand Gordon OF the 0smanieh Order
and in the same dispatch is told OF tn
trial OF bogus Armenians, the purpose b5
ing to fix ignonhny on the whole people
The fiction is industriously worked tha
the Armenians, on horseback and on foot
are assaiIing Turkey from foreign bor
ders, and both Russia and Persia ar
gravely asked to interpose and proven
these incursionS.
Russia gives an encouraging respuns
OF course. 1t is To her interest to mali
tain the fiction. She was never able
perceive the necessity for such hubbu
! hen hundreds OF thousands of them we
: ruthlcssly butChered; but she knows yer
[ well that the Armenians complained Of al
: not Armenians, but Kurds, her own u
ruly subjects, aud Persia is also W IL! a wal
Of the fact. 1t is the PURPOSE OF Turkt
2 10 ezterminate the Amenians wherev'
it is convenient to do without them, ar
! this policy VIII not be affected by Il
{ European concert. The latter is off on
side issue and VIII continue to renal
side-tracked. If the Greek boundary
determined there VIII be the Cretan affa
r TO fix; and when that is at rest some 9th,
: issue VIII take its place and Turkey w
. continue TO work her will on the Arme
? ians.
. LEE TO CALL ON SHRRNA