The Wichita tribune., 1898-10-29
FRONTIER POLICY IN INDIA.
Question Which Is PerplexIng - the
English just Now.

The recent plain speaking of certain
high officials at Simla opens out new
aspect Of frontier policy. The argu-
ments for and against the forward
movement have long been before the
British public, says the London Times.
They are arguments which. in the
judgment of the majority of English
men, depend largely on the weight of
expert evidence, and with regard to
which the ordinary lay mind hesitates
to pronounce too definite opinion. On
the other hand, those who are respon-
sible for the safety OF India would fail
In their duty il they did not recognize
an element Of danger in Russia's adj
vance through central Asia, or If they
shrank from taking the needed precau-
tons. On the other hand it Is evident
that the cost Of these precautions has
tor some time burdened India with a
military expenditure which she can
with difficulty sustain. These two
views are always present with fair
| Judging critics. At one moment the
sense Of danger is uppermost in the
! public mind, at another the financial
| difficulties have the greater force. Two
facts are, however, pretty generally
recognized. The defense of the from
tier. If it is to be effective, must be
maintained, not spasmodically. but as
9 fixed principle in our management
OF India, however great may be the
temporary financial strain. Yet in the
long run the financial capacity Of In
dia must dominate the possibilities OF
permanent frontier defense. Between
these points of agreement stretches a
wide area, which forms the battle
ground for the advocates and the OPP
ponents Of the forward policy" 1t
Is question less Of principle than OF
degree, and one which can only be de-
cided by those who have a special
knowledge Of the subject and direct
responsibility for the results. 1t has
long been suspected that divergence
Of opinion exists in this matter be-
tween the government c. Punjab, with
whom rests the civil responsibility fol
the frontier province, and the military
authorities in the government Of In
dia, with whom rests the responsibility
for frontier defense. The somewhat
animated discussion which lately tooa
place at Simla between distinguished
officers Of the two governments gave
publicity to an open secret. But i
did more than this. It has raised thu
question whether, apart from militar!
exigencies or financial possibilities. thu
present administration Of the Pun1al
frontier is one which really meets thu
necessities Of the case, and gives tn
!, largest return for the money spent up
on it. Whatever may be its merits
1t Is certainly not the system which
,, reduced the frontier to British contro
) after the annexation Of the Punjab. Il
the discussions which have filled tn
Indian press since the passage-at-arm
at Simla this doubt painfully emerges
Representative officials, whether in tn
government Of India or in the govern
ment of the Punjab, did not refral
; from putting their views in very dis
7 tinct language in the presence or tn
/ lieutenant-governor and Of the vice
j roy, and their plain speaking has bee
3 initiated by their critics. For tb
\ moment the forward policy has gi'
II en- place to the previous question
TO whether the existing system OF fro
y tier administration gives that or al
D other policy fair chance.