AN AMERICAN'S OPINION OF RUSSIAN POLICY.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 3970, 2 June 1885, Page 4

AN AMERICAN'S OPINION OF RUSSIAN POLICY.

Mr David Kerr, an American "globe trotter," who visited the Trans Caspian and the Afghan Ironrier in September last, writes to Harper's WeeMy : " Tbe forty miles of frontier which Kunnia modestly accepted from Pcrcia in 1880, comprised the two most important mountain passes in the whole mountain district. Tbe bavt and seemingly worthless hilla around Mohammedabad, which the Persians, at her bidding evacuated a year late^, pive her an open road down to the great Pereian commercial city of Mes'ied. Thi* insignificant Turcoman settlements which ene is now demanding — on the- convenient, theory that the Turcomans who fled to Afghanistan when she annexed Merv are "till her eubjects, aud cany the Russian frontier with them wherever they go would, while she disclaims all designs upon Herat, give Russia the pass key into Herat itself, which is the military key aud commercial centre of North -v estern Afghanistan. * I have no designs upon vcur bank,' snys Russia to England, ' all I want it the key of your safe.' Matched agamer mi enemy whoso motta is Bez obmana torgooli nyttt (without cheating no traoinj,'), the niunt, headlong straightforward Englishman must necessarily be worsted '"