THE AFGHAN QUESTION.

Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 12, 14 July 1885, Page 2

THE AFGHAN QUESTION.

Russian assurances of peaceful intentions must ba placed on a par with gifts from the Greeks— to ba received as a warning by all prndont people. While ostentatiously avowing the most peaceful intentions, Russia is doing everything possible to prepare for, if not to precipitate, war. Tho construction of a military bridge over the Murghab River, coar Penjdeh, and the rapid advance of huge reinforcements on Sarakhs do not appear at all compatible with a genuine desire for preserving peace. England, Persia, and Afghanistan all appear to distrust the professions, as they are all taking precautionary measures. Persia is fortifying its frontier on the Hari Rud. Afghanistan is going to fortify Herat, we presume with the assistance of England, and garrison it with 15,000 troops, who are also, we suppose, to ho supplied with modern arms by England ; while England itself has determined to extend ths Indian railway system beyond Quettah as far as the Khojak Pass, about midway to Candahar. It will be remembered that a few days ago Lord Salisbury announced that his policy would be not only to fortify the Indian frontier, but to push defences beyond it, so as to prevent the tide of war breaking upon it. The pushing of tho railway into Afghan territory, so as to place us in almost as good a position in regard to railway communication as Russia possesses, for reaohing Herat and the Paropamisus frontier is evidently a stop in this direotion. It is not stated whether the Ameer has assented to this step, but his rofusal would evidently not prevent Lord Salisbury's policy being carried out. In a recent debate, early in May last, the present Premier spoke as follows:— "It is a long distance from Herat to the Valley of the Indus. There are places- Quettah, the Khojak Pass, Candahar, and somewhere in that part of the country, I believe— which ..will be found in future as the centre of the defensive works whioh we

must make to sustain our power. I hope we shall do all we can to oonoiliate and keep tie Ameer of Afghanistan with us, and help him to the utmost of our power to defend his country ; but do not let the desire of his friendship lead us into either of these two mistakes, either in making ourselves responsible for any of the excesses whioh the wild tribes under his control may commit upon his western frontier ; nor, on the other hand, can we make any susceptibilities which any Afghan ruler may feel, a reason for abstaining from defending— and defending adequately — those positions we consider absolutely necessary for the strength of our position." Evidently Lord Salisbury in office is carrying out the pplioy whioh he thus advocated when in Opposition.