The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1885.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLI, Issue 3304, 30 April 1885, Page 2

The Timaru Herald. THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 1885.

The telegrams m connection with the Anglo-Russian complication are of a perplexing and somewhat contradictory character. Whatever else may be true it is devoutly to be hoped that Mr Gladstone has not been so unmindful of the honor of his country and so utterly blind to every consideration of policy, as to propose to submit the Penj-deh outrage to arbitration. The idea is so monstrous m its infatuation, that the mind refuses to credit such a statement, unless supported by the strongest corroboration. It would simply be the act of a madman, not of a statesman. Of the general principle of arbitration everyone must approve. We all long for the day when, as we bope, it may to a large extent do away with the necessity for war. Arbitration over such a matter as the Penj-deh affair would be ludicrously out of place, and could not possibly effect a settlement on the basis of " peace with honor " which Mr Gladstone professes to desire. If the statements of British officers and gentlemen are entitled to any weight, the Russians were guilty of a most brutal and unprovoked attack on our allies, whom we had solemnly undertaken to protect. That is not a matter for arbitration — it is a gross and deliberate insult which must either be apologised for or punished. The outrage, no doubt, was planned with premeditation to estrange our allies, and recent events certainly seem to show that English weakness and vacillation have induced m the Afghans 1 a feeling of profound distrust of Eng- j land and her ability or willingness to help them. What they would think of the British Government, while the Russian Press are storming and threatening war, meekly proposing arbitration, we can only faintly imagine. { If it had been proposed to submit the original question, the delimitation of the Afghan frontier, to an independent tribunal for settlement, one could at 1 least have understood it, if the proposal were made before the Penj-deh incident. Even that arrangement, however, would have been highly inexpedient for England to have made. Russia, if she accepted such a proposal at all, would have done so simply because she realised she was aot strong enough to "bounce" and

bully effectually at that time. She would still have waited for her opportunity, and taken the first advantage of fresh embarrassment on the part of England to make a further display of her insolence. Then the matter would have to be fought all over again, with the result that the position of Russia would have become stronger and that of England weaker m the interval. It is notorious that Bussia looks upon treaties as instruments to be lightly made and as lightly broken, whenever her interests and the opportunity appear to suit. The Penj-deh transaction rests on an entirely different I footing from the delimitation of a frontier. It is one of those affairs which must always stand outside the region of arbitration as long as society and human nature at all resemble what I they are at present. If a man catches a thief stealing his watch m the street, or murdering his friend, he does not timidly propose to submit these matters to arbitration. At least an ordinary man would not do so, but we are not at all sure, if recent telegrams are correct, how Mr Gladstone would act m such circumstances. j « The news that Sir G. S. Whitmore has been appointed commandant of the New Zealand Volunteer Forces, after the statement that arrangements had been concluded with Colonel Hewitt, the officer recommended by the Governor, has come as a surprise upon the colony. Colonel Hewitt, it is now said, was exacting on the subject of allowances, and the Government concluded at length to break ofE the negotiations deeming it advisable to have somebody m command upon the spot without delay. Sir George Whitmore was a Major m the 62nd Regiment, and afterwards accepted a command m the New Zealand Militia. He greatly distinguished himself by his bravery throughout the Maori war, which earned him a C.M.G. decoration, and subsequently a Knighthood. If the New Zealand Volunteers had to take the field they could not wish for a more intrepid commander than Sir George Whitmore, who is one of those men who appear to love fighting for fighting's sake. It remains, however, to be seen whether he possesses the power of organisation, which is what is mainly required m the post to which he has been appointed. It has also to be remembered that the art of warfare has made great advances within recent years, and unless we are mistaken, Sir George Whitmore haß been too much occupied by politics and other matters to keep himeelf posted up m military tactics and inventions. His fighting powers, however, were very conspicuous even m the Legislative Council, and during last session, they were employed with great effect against the present Government. The latter, indeed, could hardly fail to be impressed with his combative skill on various occasions, and what they then saw may have strengthened their impression aB to his fitness for the post to which they have now appointed him. Unless Parliament should otherwise determine his acceptance of a paid office under Government will, of course, void his seat m the Legislative Council.