New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-17
AEGHAN COMPILATIONS.


Tho news from Afghanistan. If true, Is omi-
mons II comes by way Of St Petersburg, wnere
tho wish Is sometimes father to the rumor, and
through The Morning Post" Of London whose
puseonhobe proclivities sometimes exercise sim
liar Maternity. Nevertheless it may be quite
true. and indeed It bears certain marks Of au-
thenticitv II is TO the effect that the Ameer has
practically gone over to the Russian side, has re-
fused British aid and subsidies and has given
thc Gar right Of way for Russian State and
military railroad across Afghan SOIL 10 the very
"Cote of India" 1t is. moreover, added that in
n proclamation the Ameer declares his friend
shin for Russia and denounces the Britlsh-by
implication-as "evil-disposed foreigners, utter
ing calumnies." The grounds for crediting this
extraordinary tale are that the Amer mas OF
late shown symptoms Of curious alterations Of
policy that Russia is actually building rail-
road straight toward Herat and that an aces
sion Of aggressveness In Russian designs ID
that direction has recently been indicated in the
Cars order making the study OF Hindostahee
obligatory on all Government officials IN Cen
trail Asia But If it be true, as we have said, II
is omnous: possibly for the peace OF the world,
probably for the British Empire and almost GER
tainly for Afghanistan
The present Ameer, VINO may justly pe c'iiou
the Great Ameer, was formerly protege OF
Russia. He may therefore be supposed to have
kind feelings toward that country. But he was
nut upon his throne by British influence more
than any other. Moreover. he has for years
been in close alliance with the British Govern
ment He is under pledges Of loyalty to it, and
is In receipt Of 4 yearly subsidy from 1t OF elgh-
teen lakhs Of rupees, which even now. at the de-
preciated valuation Of the rupee. is equal 10
S36OOOO The Brltsh-Indan Treasury does not
pay that out for nothing. IT expects and exacts
n ould pro quo. That Is that the Ameer shall
be friendly to the British Empire and shall serve
as its barrier against Russian aggression. The
Ameer is nominally an independent sovereign,
and as such would have right to make such
alliances with Russia as he pleased. But in fact
he is a pensioner and dependent OF Great Brit
ain and as long MS he Is that he Will be held to
have 70 right to make any such compact with
Russia as the one now reported. Moreover. he
IS by formal agreement with Great Britain de-
barred from making treaties or having any dip
lomatic relations with any foreign Power save
British India The treaty reported In THE
Morning Post" would therefore be both In letter
and in spirit direct violation OF his obligations
such AS could not possibly be overlooked or con-
doned by the British Government.
The railroad which Russia IL building from
Merry to Kushk and thence 10 Herat, and which
some weeks ago was opened IA far as Sary-
Yazy, on the Murghab River. Ia on the face OF II
intended as menace to British India. No other
object is discernbe, indeed conceivable.
The present road, from the Caspian 10 Merv,
Bokhara and Samarcand, is all that trade can
possibly require There has been hint that
the Kushk line is meant to be extended across
Afghanlstan and Persia to Bushlre, on the Per-
sian Gulf No doubt Russia wants an outlet In
that quarter, but such route would be absurd.
The shortest and easiest route would be either
from the southern shore Of the Caspian straight
across Persia or better still, from Transcauca-
sin to the valley Of the Tgris. road tn Herat
could serve no purpose but 10 establish Russian
dominance In Afghapstap and to menace Brit