The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-04
RUSSIA AND ENGLAND IN <FsHANIs-
TAN.
Russia's Recent Advance Probably Based
on an Understanding with England.

Ru,.ia's Recent Advances Probably BASED
on an Understanding with England.
To THE EpIroR or TIE SuS-Sir: As
spent many years OF my life among the Afghan
people and passed through tho two Afghan
wars. II may be OF interest n explain what
consider to be the true import OF the news that
Russia intends 10 send an embassy TO tho court
OF Cabul in the spring.
About two months ago II was stated that
Lord Curzon had determined to reverse the
policy OF his predecessors and to return to the
"mnsterly inactivity" OF the late Lord Law
renee. and. moreover. that this was oil the
more surprising because Lord CurZOn was IN
avowed statesman OF the advanced school with
regard to central Aaia.
II must be borne In mind that there still re-
mains In England n very strong party bias.
especially among the Liberals. against Lord
salisburys policy and In favor OF that OF the
late Mr. Gladstone with regard to Afghanistan.
II must therefore be explained what was
meant by the advanced policy initiated BY the
late Sir Bartle Frere. II never meant. for sin
gle moment, the conquest Of Afghanlstan. but
merely the establishment of embassies or
agen In all parts OF central Asia. And II Lord
Curzon's book OF travel through central Asia
Is carefully studied It will clearly be seen that
Lord Curzon is In favor OF very friendly un-
derstan ding with Russia on the one hand. and
OF n vigorous frontier policy on the other
have travelled In Chitral and through the
Khyber, and into parts OF AfRhanistan. and 1
know from personal observation that II ia not
desirable to locate British garrisons In those
parts any longer than they are needed. and the
withdrawal OF the garrison from Chitral will
meet with tho approval Of all tho supporters Of
Lord Sallsbury's frontier policy. Besides this,
come loyal to the British Government, the
whole aspect OF affairs on the frontier Ia
changed.
In the present condition OF things II would
be completely IN harm onv with Lord Curzon 8
avowed policy that Russia should be invited 70
send an agent to Cabul 80 that the British and
Russian agents may be able TO thoroughly
understand the condition OF affairs on the spot
The time has surely come when there must be
c. a:r: ss . iSs .SS. TO
sG sphere ~ fnG s"s ,S w'sn
vanced school Of statesnanship 70 regard to
Ameor Abdur Rahman had been amenabie
70 reason there would have been a railway
time. WITH Russian fs embassy in cs .Ssi
and q thorough understandns between Rus.
be RAPIDLY opened to commerce. and there viii
be no longer that closed door which has beer,
| such \ hindrance to the spread OF civilization.
The do; nothing policy" OF Lord Lawrence was
Intended to draw an impossible line along the
| foot OF the hills and to allow the Afghan tribes
| 20 do as they pleased. But the Peshawar VAL
ley Is a part OF Afghanistan inhabited BY
Afghan people and yet under British rule. and
| here H. the rea bone OF contention between
| the ruler Of Afghanistan and the British Gov
| eminent. II IL an oren sore with the Afghan
Ameers., But Lord Cprzon does not propose.
dian mutily of 1857. to bring the frontier line
OF British Tndin back to the River Indus On
the contrary his policy IL, by showing a firm
front, to convince Russia thut Il IL to her inter-
est TO come to rOme complete understanding
regarding the Afghan tribes.
There Ia nov no analogy between the con-
liton OF things in 1877 when the Ameer OF
Ca.ul received a Russian mission with honor.
and turned a deaf ear to the friendly offers
made by Lord Salisbury as tho Secretary Of
minist" alton, The establishment OF n Russian
embassy at Cabul In the Light OF the recent
Afghan war would simply mean war to the
knife with Russia, unless, according TO the line
OF action so clearly Indicated in Lord Curzon .
exists between Russia and ENGLAND. This. I
think. subsequent events will prove to be the
case.
AGovEnxMExr EXAMINER IN THE AFGHAN
LANGUAGE.