MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1885.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 122, 1 June 1885, Page 2

MONDAY, JUNE 1, 1885.

The terms of settlement between Eng land and Russia, as telegraphed to-day,| are far more favourable to England than we had anticipated. Every point of strategic advantage is ceded to Afghanistan. Not only does Russia abandon her claim to the northern slopes of the Paropamisus range, but she gives up M. Lessar's line altogether,! evacuates Zulfikar Pass, which was

occupied by Russian troops, and leaves Meruchak and the strip of Turkoman country between Meruchak and Zulfikar to the Ameer. The line adopted appears to differ very little from that i originally suggested by England, except that it will probably be carried south of Penjdeh and leave that place under Russian control. The Ameer incorporates into his kingdom a belt of territory over which his previous rule, if he exercised any, consisted in a very questionable sort of suzerainty, and the northern defences of Afghan territory proper are left intact; Russia retires frcm a position she had occupied, and acknowledges the predomin- ' ance of English influence in Afghanistan, personified by Sir Donald Stewart's direction of the defences of Herat. If this adjustment constitutes a diplomatic victory to Russia, the Czar is very welcome to it. Russia has accepted very much less than she had claimed as a right, and England gets everything that is of any use for the defence of the Indian Empire, or to give compactness to the dominions of her ally, the Ameer. The deviations sanctioned in the boundary originally suggested by England are not more than would naturally be looked for upon an arbitrary line drawn from one point to another as a basis of parleying. On reference to the Star map of Afghanistan, it will be seen that this line of boundary (the centre one of the three) commences a little north of Zulfikar, and passes immediately north of Penjdeh. The line agreed to between the two countries, as we gather from today's despatches,starts!somewhcrc about the point indicated on the map, but takes a more southerly direction, passing between Penjdeh and Meruchak (the details to be adjusted by survey on the ground). The firm attitude of England has had a great deal to do with the moderation of Russia ; and the collision at Penjdeh, by straining diplomacy to the point of rupture, mado the Russian Council more anxious to come to an agreement. The vigour and vitality displayed by England in her recent preparations for resisting Russian encroachments, and the readiness of the Government and people to defend the Empire singlehanded against the Northern Colossus, has raised England in the respect of the Great Powers of Europe. The satisfactory settlement, so largely due to the firmness, combined with moderation and foresight, of the Gladstone Government, will also strengthen them in the country at the approaching general elections. It is not often that a nation escapes with peace and honour from such a situation after the implements of war had been mustered for attack, and the passions of both sides had been heated to the boiling point.