Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22,1885. THE AFGHAN DIFFICULTY.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7143, 22 April 1885, Page 2

Hawke's Bay Herald. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 22, 1885. THE AFGHAN DIFFICULTY.

TnE news from London which we publish this morning in of a less reaSßuring tenor than the hopeful messages of the past few days. In the House of Commons Mr Gladstone intimated that an account of the Russian attack on tho Afghans at Penj-deh received from Sir Peter Lumsdon was not in accord with the statements published by the Russian Government. There ia nothing of very serious import in this, beyond the fact that it shows what many people have believed all along, that the assurances of Russia are no more to be reliad upon than a broken reed. Of more significance is the news that active preparations are being made to get the Russian fleet ready for S9a. It may be argued that England has been getting her fleet ready for weekß past, but the circumstances of the two countries are entirely different, and their actions must be construed accordingly. England is simply acting on the defensive, and preparing to defend herself if her Indian Empire is attacked. She will not fight unless fighting is the only way to avoid dishonor and disaster. Russia, on the other hand, holds the balance of peace or war in her hand. She is the aggreaaor, and if she ceasea her aggression she has no war to fear. Her preparations are therefore significant, as indicating that she is not so desirous of peace aa M. de G-iers wishes England to think. M. de Giers is himself a noted member of the peace party, and he may personally ardently desire peace, but there are powers behind him which he cannot resist, and his individual wish fora peaceful ending of the present difficulties would go for very little. The course of events so far seems to indicate that there is a strong war party in Russia, and peace is yet by no means assured. There is nothing to cause a panic, but there is sufficient ground for fearing that war may be the end to justify all the preparations for the possible conflict which England can make. That these preparations are large is shown by the vote of six millions sterling which is asked for by Mr Gladstone, and unless the British Government considered war among the possibilities— we may say among the probabilities — of the near future, a Cabinet with Mr Gladstone at its head would not take the extensive precautionary aud preparatory measnres which are being adopted. Here in New Zealand we can only sit still and watch the changing currents of European complications, and hope for the continued maintenance of peace.