Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎67v] (138/312)

dares to say what consequences may not follow, Afghanistan
must be invaded as soon as the season allows because
there are so many people in India who will keenly sym
pathize with the Ameer, will rejoice in the slight which
he has put upon us, and will eagerly welcome every tittle
of evidence which goes to show that we are unable to
resent it. We recognize this fact by the promptitude of our mili
tary measures; but of what avail will it be to recognize it in
one aspect if we shut our eyes to it in the other ? These same
people whose opinion of our strength we think of so much
importance are the people from whom the revenues of India
are raised—raised, as we know, with difficulty, raised at the
cost of much privation to the taxpayers, raised consequently
at the constant and inevitable risk of exciting discontent and
ill-will. To make India pay the bill, or any part of the bill,
for the invasion of Afghanistan would certainly make increased
taxation necessary. It would be wanted to pay the interest
on the inevitable loan; for there is no margin in the existing
imposts out of which to meet either this or any other addition to
current expenditure. But between the existing and the new taxes
there would be this serious difference ; the existing taxes are in a
great degree levied to maintain the civil government, which,
however much disaffected natives may dislike it, does pive them
almost immeasurable advantages in return for what they pay;
but the new taxes would be levied to pay the cost of subduing
an independent race with which they sympathize, in the interests
of masters whom they do not love. Altogether, no better text
could be given to a preacher of disaffection.
Is it permissible to ask ourselves what the Empress of India
may think on this subject ?
The circumstance that on more than one occasion feigned epistles
have been said to have been " picked up " near this or that place, to givei
an air of truth to them, does not deter us from the statement that the
following letter was found this morning in the neighbourhood of Printing
House-square:—
Dear . Herewith a hint or two for to-morrow's leader on the Afghan question.—
Yours ever, M. C.
Russian mission appears at Cabul. Viceroy instructed to conceive a British mission.
Viceroy conceives it. Viceroy obtains private information that Ameer has no intention
of receiving it, but was merely playing in a derisive and insolent manner with the expecta
tion of the Government. (See your correspondent's last telegram,) Viceroy on this publicly
announces imposing mission will be sent. Lay stress here on the fact that the Viceroy,
knowing that his mission would be insulted, considered that a protracted delay after the
insult would have a good effect. Mission is therefore sent and insulted, and preparations
made to commence hostilities in the spring. This interval will be used by British
officers to conciliate frontier tribes. Russian agents and Ameer's officers will also try to
conciliate them, but will fail on account of unreliability of hill tribes. Besides, the weather
better in spring than in winter. Massing of troops at Quetta and Thull during the
winter and six months' inactivity favourable to our prestige among semi-independent
Indian States, as repose conveys an idea of strength. Continu e to deprecate hurry.
You cannot dwell too much on the weather. Say you cannot feel certain whether
Russia instigated Shere Ali or not. If she did, nothing could be more fortunate-
repeat again why it is fortunate. Close (as you are a good fellow) with the usual
assurances that whether Russia incited the Ameer or not, whether we go to war or not,
whether the hill tribes are for us or against us, the prestige of the country cannot suffer,
for it is entrusted to skilful and far-sighted hands.
P.S.—We have not settled yet whether England or India will pay the cost of the
war, but I will let you know to-morrow.
(Very private).—P.S.S.—Throw cold water upon rumors of dissensions in the
Cabinet. S. and N. have been troublesome, but Stanley and Hardy are come to
London to settle details with the D. of C. We must soon put out a feeler to see how
the cat jumps about the Euphrates Valley Railway. I expect trouble with Northcote
about this.
The Turkestan Gazette says that the Russian troops which were con
centrated at Djama, on the Bokharian frontier, are on their way back to
Tashkend. The telegraphic communication between Samarcand and
Djama is to be continued to Kattakurgan, as a prolongation of the line
which proceeds from Tashkend v& Khodjend, Tiube, Djsak, and Satnar-
cand. " It is very remarkable," observes the Gazette, " that the Ameer of
Afghanistan, when he learned the intention of the Russian commander-
in-chief to lay down a line of telegraph as far as the Amou-Darya
in the event of an advance of the Russian army, expressed his
readiness to place as many telegraph-posts as might be required
at the disposal of the Russian engineers. He further promised that
during the whole period of the stay of Russian troops within the frontiers
of his country he would supply them with provisions and forage \ and
he collected large supplies of clover, rice, barley, and mutton at Schar-
kitabie and Tchiraktcha for this purpose. He has thereby proved his
wish to render great services to Russia. .... Simultaneously with the
arrival of General Kaufmann at Samarcand, there came an extraordinary
mission sent by the Ameer to salute the Russian representative. Among
the members of the mission were the Beys Schachrysiaba and Saadinu, as
representatives of the Bey of Keryman ; also special representatives of the
Ameer Durbun-Biy, the Ameer Prachmetulla Mirachur, the Ameer Shere Ali,
and the Alimbeg Permantchy, who is highly respected by his people.
General Kaufmann will send a Plenipotentiary with an autograph letter to
the Ameer, thanking him for this special mark of distinction. The first
step has thus been taken for entering into direct relations with Afghanistan,
which may be of great service to us The last report received from
General Stoletoff, the envoy to Cabul, came from Haihek, in Northern
Afghanistan, where he was received with great honours."