Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎9r] (18/312)

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It was thought for some time that the
Ameer's dependence had been purchased by lavish
gifts of money and arms, and that he could be relied
on to form a kind of buffer to Russian conquest in
the direction of our Indian Empire. Circumstances,
however, arose which tended to expose the fallacy of
this idea, and it was with the view of ascertaining
the exact state of affairs between our Government
and that of Cabul that the Peshawur Conference
was held. The Ameer had no objection to receiving
lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees of rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. , or hundreds of rifles and thousands of
rounds of ammunition, these being in his view of the case
a somewhat negative sign of his vassalage, but when this
Government naturally demanded a certain quid pro quo in
the shape of Residents at oi^e or two places of impor-
! tance in his territory, the plenipotentiary discreetly became
I suddenly ill, necessitating the closing of the durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). . Thus it
| was seen that rather than accept our favours and renounce
| his independence, the Ameer chose to do his utmost in
| keeping the Khyber shut against us. Probably it would
j have been better for him had he chosen the former alter-
j native. Recent events have shown how thoroughly
in earnest the scheming Russ is in his endeavours to become
the paramount power in Central Asia, and Government i3
now quite alive to the necessity of a more intimate ac
quaintance with what goes on behind the Black Moun
tain. The Ameer, therefore, will find it somewhat les?
easy than before to put off the Government demands. I(
may be a little flattering to his pride to find both Russia
and England anxious to win him over, but he wili prob*
ably not bo prepared to find that whether he likes it 01
not, he will have no opportunity of gamsaying what
is now to be demanded of him. Another camp
of exercise is, I hear, likely to be formed
near the Bolan Pass, and the troops will pro
bably assemble there as weU as at Hassan Abdul soma
time in October. The Quetta garrison is also to be
strengthened, so that altogether frontier matters are look
ing up, and in the somewhat remote event of the Ameer
not acquiescing in the views of Government some of the
Punjaub regiments may ere long find themselves in tha
strongholds of Cabul." Our Ju]lander correspondent tella
us that the mission is looked upon with great anxiety by
all who are able to appreciate the incalculable
mischief that a mistake might cause, " There ia
(he says) at present unquestionably a restless
spirit abroad in the bazaars, and even in the vil
lages ; the wild rumours with which we have been
favoured by the Times as to three converging Russian
columns marching for the Indian frontier, distorted and
exa gg era te(il, are eagerly discussed ; and any fresh inso-
lence on the part of the Ameer, any apparent diplomatic
check in the duel of statecraft in which we have chosen
to engage, is likely to produce a very unfavourable im
pression on the native mind. Personally I regard the
present trans-frontier policy of the Indian Government
with the deepest distrust. It is a most dangerous path tot
embark on, if we are insulted and defied, and are not
ready at once to puxush the offender in an exemplary
manner.' 5
Oub ^ffghanistan Policy .—(To the Editor
of tht» Da ly News.) —Sir, —Thoroughly agreeing with the
. remarks contained in Mr. Sandars' letter on Afghanistan
, policy in your issue of to-day, may I be permitted to
: observe that " the admirable article in the Edinburcih
■\ Review of January, 1867," whicli he attributes to the pen
; of Sir John Kaye, wan written by the late John W. S.
Wyilie, while Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs in the
Viceroyalty of Lord Lawrence h That essay, which ox-
pounds the grounds for adhering to our present line oflndian
defence has, with others by the same author, been repnb-
i lished by Dr. W. W. Hunter ("Essays ou the External
i Policy of India " : Smith, Eldr .r and Co.), and v/ell de-
seiyes notice at this moment, when the policy of Impe
rialism is leading to an inevitable occupation
; of Affghanistan. The aim of a succession of "Viceroys
was to give no umbrage to the Affghans, and if
| possible to obtain the friendship of their ruler, but
i Lord Lytton's actions have produced the most opposite
j results. John Wyilie, while pointing out that the strategic
advantages of an occupation of Quetta were doubtful, ob
served that the political disadvantages were obvious, one
of them being the certainty of arousing tho jealousy of 1
the Affghans. Time has verified this view. We are in
occupation of Quetta ; and the ruler of Affghanistan,
whose friendship we seek, declares in a tempest of passion
that sooner than give it to us he vmil expend against us
every rupee in hia treasury, and roll the whole border in
| lire.—I am. &c., E.—Devonshire Club, St. James's, S .W.,
Sept. 20.