New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-11-04

The serious work in which Great Britain has
been engaged in South Africa has diverted at
tontion from one Of the most momcntous
changes in policy in India for many years ms
amounts 10 nothing less than virtual repudla-
ton and abandonment Of what has been known
as the forward" policy on the Northwestern
frontier, and the withdrawal Of the British In
dian army from the outlying posts which have
in recent years been occupied at so great
cost Of life and treasure. That does not as
we shall see mean any REIMBURSEMENT OF ter
ritorv or Of control. Nevertheless we have no
doubt that if it had not been for the Iransvaal
business the new policy would have provoked
q tremendous storm OF protest and opposition
i'm England rs well as at Calcutta and Simla.
This would have been the more intense because
thc change is 50 unexpected. II is not too
much 10 say that exactly the contrary was cN-
pected on all hands with the utmost confidence
Lord Curzon was supposed TO be absolutely in
favor Of the "forward' policy and 10 be ir-
rctrieyably committed TO it, Therefore, when
ne was appointed Niccroy, men took for granted
that not only would Quota and Chitral and
Swat and all the rest Of those wild regions be
kept under British garrisons, but the boundaries
woull he pushed still further. even To the con
ouest Of Afghanistan itself a task for which
Lord Roberts the great exponent Of the for
ward" Motley. has always been suspected Of
laundering.
II is one thing however. 10 be- a writer OF
clever books and "A maker Of clever speeches.
and another and very different thing 10 be- the
responsible ruler Of vast empire. Upon such
n change Of base Lord Curzon needs 10 other
apology for his change Of policy. That he has
made a radical change of policy + now in
dnbltable He has made IL clear that the from
tier IS TO be regarded Is nearer 10 the Indus
than 10 the OxlS, and 10 be marked by the Su-
leimanS and IIimalayas rather than by the
Karakorums and Hlndoo KoOsh. Within these
narrower limits the regular army VIII for the
most part be- restrained with ample garriSOns
for barring all the mountain gates in case If
need 50 That In case Of war with Russia. in
stead Of marching across hundreds of miles of
the most rugged and inhospltahlc mountain
country I'm the world 10 meet and fight thc
foe on his own ground the British will remain
on their own ground and compel the foe TO
make that tollsomc march. Concerning the
wisdom Of such strategy there are differences of
expert opinion: but at least Lord Curzon's new
policy is not destitute Of eminent and authorita-
tive support
Hill States and Afghanistan are to be altogether
abandoned ON the contrary. they are 10 he
Kept under British influence in a particularly
effective manner The British garrsons are 70
be replaced by native forces. under British Of
hcers That will not only reduce greatly The
cost Of occupation. bat il Will increase Its ef-
fectiveness a. well For the British garrsons
were regarded with distrust a. aliens and In
truders SO long as they we're there the tribes
men were sulky mutinous. and loyal under
compusion and under protest Removal Of them
will remove q great source Of irritation. But
even more than tnal will be accomplished. The
trIheSmen are all natural fighters. War Is the
breath Of life 10 them. Therefore. 10 organize
and arm them will be- to tickle their pride and
10 crafty their desire They VIII Ice at least ~
ready 10 frht FOR the British a> they have ever
been to nghf against Them. The example of the
Slkhs and GhOorkas shows That. There seems
indeed no good reason why The SWatiS ana
Afridis and Khybcrcrs and all the rest Of them
should not become much what the Sikhs and
Ghoorkas are today. In that case the Ili coun-
| try would DO far more effective barrier