PROPOSED RUSSIAN EXPEDITION TO AFGHANISTAN.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1837, 12 January 1880, Page 2

PROPOSED RUSSIAN EXPEDITION TO AFGHANISTAN.

A corresnondent in St. Petersburg writes to the Berlin correspondent of the “ Daily News,” of November sth, as follows : “ I hear that the preparalious for the proposed Afghan expedition have received a check at the outset. General Kaufman, after leaving St. Petersburg en route for Orenburg, represent'd at headquarters that without cash and supplies the preparations could not be proceeded with. It is reported that he received a significant answer from Livadia

that it wag perhaps better not to proceed with them. I hope this information is as trustworthy as the original intelligence received respecting the expedition being planned and ordered to be prepared. Corroborated and confirmed as that was from more than one authentic quarter, it could not admit of doubt, wild as the plan was, and ruinously costly as it would have been. It is well that such schemes be carried out without great outlay, and it is known that the finances of Russian Turkestan are unequal to the ordinary expenditure, so that it is quite certain no extra armament can be provided from local resources. lam also informed that on the proposal being made to furnish Abdurahman Khan with a considerable sum of money, which with the accumulation of the yearly subsidy, twenty-five thousand roubles, allowed by Russia would amount to more then half a million roubles —to he employed preliminarily in judicious distribution amongst the native chiefs —an absolute refusal was given to any such proceeding during peaceful relations with England, this decision causing disappointment if not surprise. I hear that the irritation that was shown, not only in the Press, but in offi-ial circles, on the occasion of Lord Salisbury’s speech has subsided. Under the influence of the anger and annoyance first experienced, the question was even raised of withdrawing the Russian Ambassador from London, but that idea was at once authoritatively negatived, on the ground that the speech could not be regarded as official.”