Year: 1879




Englands tragic mishap in Afghanistan
reopens the whole extensive topic of her
relations to Russia in Central Asia. From
the tone of the London journals it must be
judged that there are some intelligent per-
sons who do not see the case in that light
or who are eager to convince themselves
that the event does not go SO deep nor
reach so far. The London Times says :
what has happened by no means creates
new situation. Our policy will be to keep
steadily to the lines which have been al
ready traced with the approval OF public
opinion" This is to say, in other words,
that it is not the system proceeded upon
which is at fault it is not the bad working
of an erroneous policy that they have
to deal with Nothing has failed them ex-
cept the lives of Cavagnari and few sec
retaries and soldiers. All they have to do
is to send forward their armies again,
conquer the country as they did last year,
occupy Cabul, put another officer in Cavag-
nari's place, post other secretaries and
other soldiers, and withdraw the victorious
columns as before Then all will be again
as it was. How long it would probably be
before the Afghans slaughtered the new
Resident and his associated company OF
civilians and soldiers does not seem to
concern anybody; neither do they imagine
that there should be guarantee against
the possible expense OF conquering the
country once year. 1t seems to US that
this view of the Times is the view of men
not convinced even by calamity. 1t is
based either upon ignorance of the facts,
or upon determination to deceive the
public and bolster the governments now
transparent blunder.


Her Majesty's government knew thor
oughly we'll the full extent of the peril they
incurred when they posted Cavagnari in
Cabul and left him there supported only by
| handful of troops and the moral force Of
Englands name. His bodyguard they
knew was a mere formality; but they hoped
that the name Of England might be of some
account in the case Should that influence
fail they were aware that any fanatic could
raise cry in the streets any day rs the Resi-
dent rode by which would obliterate him
and his suite as the evidences and remind
ers Of the fact of foreign domination. But
they could not help themselves. They were
/ we'll aware that the only way to secure
their possession of the country was to hold
| it actually by as large force as had been
necessary to conquer it. They could not,
however, do that. They were not per-
| mitted. And it was not merely the ex-
pensiveness Of occupation that stood in the
way. 1t was Russia. They went 30 far as
they did only in virtue Of compact with
her; and their war was an easy one because
she did not give the expected word which
would have led to the resistance that Shere
Ali was prepared to make in cooperation
with the Russians. Except for Russia's
assent to England's advance the troops that
went into Afghanistan would have Jared
worse than those who dealt with the Zulus,
and Russia's assent was obtained only in
exchange for pledge on England's part
which deprived England's advance of per-
manent value. The British government
gambled upon the chance Of success in con-
ditions that made success impossible.


England pledged herself to Russia at the
time she prepared her advance into Afghan
istan that she had no intention to perma-
nently occupy the country, and that she
would not permanently occupy it, but that
she would absolutely withdraw her troops
| from the country as soon as she had made
o treaty with the Ameer and posted Resi-
dent at Cabul I; and that she would leave
there no armed force save definitely linn
tied number Of men for her Ambassado or 8
bodyguard. In consequence Of that pledge
on the part of England Russia assumed tow
ard the Ameer the attitude which seemed
so absolutely incomprehensible at the time
She seemed, in fact, to abandon him to
hard fate. She had assured him
of her protection, and he seemed to believe
that they were to have common enemies
He was to give himself up to the direction
of Russian policy and Russia was to sup
port him against the domination of his
neighbor on the other side. All his plans
and schemes for defence grouped themselves
around this central idea OF his relations
critical moment came and the Russian sup
port failed him he was paraiyzed as to oil
his hopes and prospects for successful resist
ance Russias word whipped the Af-
ghans and the British troops overcame q
mere show of hostility. 1t was war that
was 'sold out" before shot was fired. But
it answered the purposes of those who
wanted something to hurrah over, and
Russia for her betrayal of the Ameer got
what she considered an equivalent in Rou.
melia-


Had Russia gained as the price of her
neutrality in Asia no other advantage than
the concession from England and the other
Powers of suspension of that clause OF
the Berlin Treaty which required her early
evacuation of the Turkish territory she
.ranld haua faladued har nnutralitu Mt a