The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-11-07

~. fNugal hinEN'm ~ NtH "i''
- is,an. to- which unwersal 81
tauiion has been attracted Z!
Z he death Of Amcei Abap'
II suhnian and the elevation i'
power OF his son. ilahlhullan
occupies one of the great suateglc p9
sltions OF the world. commanding ~ =
docs the meanfMn passs beiN fA .h-
pos.cs ions 1i l,usal ana British in
Lullng tho past laaa century on ~ lh
Nuscok ile ana Bitoa have strpssiru
for .fup,erlncy here. FOR II ia am oio
tradltiCn that the Euyopeen power
Mnich shall gain and hold the sate'
OF Imdustan" vil be dominant VA tnla
portion oi tho giobn. IL IS needless "a
rceapitulatc the various attempts tha'
have been made 10 conquer Afghan
istan. for some of the most active anp
prominent participants tnotaDle among
thor. Lord Roberts af NanJahai) are
si.u living and tho events are compar-
atir.ly fresh IN memory.
situated as a. is "a moun,ninOus and
foi thc sreai,. part sterile ieifitoiy'
Afghanistan IS yet esteemed oi greater
Naluc % cithcl RUSSIA or Great Bit
ain than many a country far richer ~
material wealth ana possessing more
varied produsls and better climate
THIS "huiicr state" a. u has beon cali
ed from Ns situa tion between the cen
tial Asian tCTTtrUrfrS- az rhai powers.
Is apout 500 miles from north 10 south
aud GOO miles from east 90 west, OF
some 10000 square miles in area. II II
country of contrarietics, Leing e&-
ttcrQcly hot IN summer and cold IN win
tor, Win uatwat products pertaining
10 the temperate zone, asceriainr".
though uncXploitcd, mineral resource
and wild and turbulent population.
II Us only recently that its boundaries
Nerc delimitcd. 20 tho satisfaction of
Russia on the ono hand and Of England
on the other, We, il is n mstter OF no.
ioriety that tho former power is mass
ing is troops along tho western from
tier and Is watching warily for an op.
portunily 90 seize Herab the fampus
key 10 India"
The autonomy aud neutrality ~ AZ
rhanistan have been secured thus fae
hy The British policy. succeeding Go wiz
iusl conquest, of subsidizing the amcer.
Bm whether Habibullah will follow IN
the footsteps OF his father and continue
lro British is yet a matter Of specula
tiou .tbdur l,ahman received an an
nusl subsidy ~ about ~ 600, 900 from
the Rlftiah government and was also
the recipient Of numerous favors from
tho astutc statesmen who considered a
purchased leace vastly cheaper than
protractcd war Whether or not the
late ameef WAS sincere i'm his profes
fions ~ friendship foT the British il
neithSr here nor there The facts show
that he held 20 his word during nearly
a score oflyoars and at the same time
kept the Russian bear from breaking
t.rough his mountain passe8 and get
tn~ paw on British india.
So far 50 good iiut the question now
sai,t To hp agitating the British govern.
n1ent IL, VIE lhe present amecr cont IN
u his "a tiTers policyf Perhaps. aftet
all, fl IS not SO greatly agitated. but is
resting secure in the serene conscious
mess OF having anticipated any possible
detection of The anecr by military as
wen as diplomatic means The great
cst menace 10 tie pe acc OF central Asia
and Afghanistan, the breaking OF which
might precipitate two great nations into
war, is the possible dethronnc of Ha-
hibUllah by his relatives. instigated Ell
ther by. Russian influence on bv per
sonol ambition. II has been left TO tho
Nicercy OF India. Lord Curzon. TO trea;
with tho ameer in the most effective
manner, and as be has The vast re-
sources of British India at his back and
rahi.ml ifi44+- -lAe-lanMci' of British pres
tiec and military strength. il is be-
l.r.i irat he NIl bold the ameer 90