Russia and Afghanistan.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 4983, 16 April 1889, Page 2

Russia and Afghanistan.

Professor Vambery again sounds a nolo of warning in tho Fester Lloyd, After reviewing the state of affairs in Central Asia since the conclusion of the Anglo-Kussian Convention respecting the Afghan frontier two years ago, the learned Hungarian writer asks whether anybody in the least acquainted with recent events in Central Asia could for a moment believe that Abdurrahman, a keen and cjperieqiced politician, would wage war

on Russia without the consent of his English allies. The professor flatly denies the possibility of such an event, pointing out that Abdurrahman has barely 5000 men with him, and that there exists between him and the ruler of Bokhara a feud of long standing, which excludes the idea of an alliance between these two countries as stated by the Russian Press, and this apart from the fact that the Emir of Bokhara, who enjoys Russian patronage, is well known for his utter want of courage. Professor Yambery continues :—“ The question now is, What is Russia’s present intention ? and the answer to this is at once forthcoming if one remembers that the military circles at St. Petersburg are tired of the four-years’ peace on the Afghan frontier and wish to become active again. It is no longer a secret, and the great prophet has already pointed it out, that Russia considers a river a bad frontier, or none at all. She longs to cross the Oxus and to place her outposts on the left bank on the southern slopes of the Hindoo Koosh. So long as ten years ago Russian experts raised this demand, to which I myself (I regret to say in vain) have drawn the attention of Englishmen. This wish still remains unfulfilled, and, as its realisation would be prevented by the consolidation of Afghanistan under the rule of Abdurrahman, nothing is more natural than that Russia should look with disfavour on the proceedings of the present ruler of the Afghans, and try to throw obstacles in his way. It is true that two years ago the Russian Government let an opportunity slip by refusing hospitality to Ayoob Khan and allowing him to appeal for for British protection. But then the railway to Samarcand was not yet finished, and besides the Russian plans were successfully upset through the vigilance of Sir Arthur Nicholson, the British Envoy in Persia.’’ The professor concludes by saying : —“ It is not Afghanistan, but Russia, who wants to pick a quarrel in Asia. I shall maintain this opinion so long as the corps of observation in Chardjui has not returned to its former posts in garrison at Merv and Askabad, and General Komaroff has not resumed his archmological studies.”