THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN DIFFICULTY.

Tuapeka Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1179, 12 September 1885, Page 3

THE ANGLO-RUSSIAN DIFFICULTY.

A London despatch to the New "York "Herald," dated July 18th, says : — Every breeze from Herat continues to throw the political and financial world into spasms and convulsions. The Alikanoff and other embryo Skobeloffs on the Heri Rud have now given the Salisbury-Churchill Cabinet a magnificent opportunity. Every one behind the scenes feels convinced that Russia intends some day or other to seize Herat and push on to the Indian Ocean. Russia is slowly but steadily preparing for the grand move. Thousands of miles of railway, planned by the indefatigable General Annenkanoff — aided by the advice of a graduate of West Point and ex-lieutenant of engineers of the United States army — are already dotted in ink on the Russian staff maps of Central Asia and Afghanistan. Persia is already a mere vass.il of Russia. A secret treaty authorises the Czar's troops to march across Persian territory and to be fed with Persian provisions. CONSERVATIVE TEMPORISING WITH EVENTS.

Russia has everything in Central Asia cut and dried. She has already " ho jked " Herat, and is only " playing " the big fish before getting out the landing net. On the other hand, the England of Salisbury and Churchill seems, as far as Russia 1b concerned, to be the same as the England of Gladstone and Granville. England continues to bolster up the unpopular Ameer just as she has been bolstering up an unpopular Khedive. The Ameer of Afghanistan is made a Commander of the Star of India by Salisbury and Churchill just as the Khedive received the same decoration from Gladstone and Granville. THE WILES OF THE AMEER. The Ameer issues an absurd, bombastic proclamation about his new decoration entitling him to the protection of the Indian army. He makes grand illuminations and fires salutes of one hundred and one guns. The Ameer has allowed the British Boundary Commission to pitch their tents within ten miles of Herat, and to make " flying and stealthy visits " to "the key of India." Anything more than this would entail "Bazaar disturbances," and result in the British Commission, as well as the Ameer, being kicked out of the country. With these facts before their eyes, the British Cabinet, if they have any veneration for the tradition! of Falmerston or of Beaconsfield, have only one course left open — a definite issue should at once ba framed with \ Russia. what is England's duty ? Thus far, but no farther, should be the watchword. The demand should be made that Russian troops recross the Heri Rud and evacuate Zulfikar. Now is the moment for England to strike. If she hesitates she is very likely to get the worst of it. If fighting is delayed till October, then the Baltic will be frozen, and England's only chance to hit her adversary in a vital point will be lost. Meanwhile the season for a Russian campaign in Afghanistan has become most favorable. In spite of the grand peace-at-any-price party, the overwhelming majority of Englishmen would eagerly respond to firm pluck and true grit if the Cabinet will only show it. Lord Wolseley and nearly all the naval and military advisers of the Government are convinced that the sooner the war comes off the better. Lord Wolseley is almost as eager for war as General Obruttcheff is. Lord Wolseley is smarting

under the effects of the role imposed upou him by the late Ministry. WOLSELEY AND CHURCHILL FOB. WAR. He feels towards Gladstone just as in 1863 M'Lean felt towards Stanton. " Our only General !'' now takes his seat in the House of Lords with the Conservatives. Lady Wolseley and Lady Randolph Churchill are both on very intimate terms. Lord Wolseley and Lord Randolph Churchill are both eager to fight Russia, but the three Pinafore members of the Cabinet— Mr W. H. Smith, Lord Iddesleigh, and Sir Richard Cross— are pulling at their colleagues' coat tails and letting " I dare not " wait upon " I would."