Scrapbook of newspaper cuttings about Afghanistan [‎146v] (301/312)

Kussian phraseology, desiring'to cement their* friendly and commercial relations with
Afghanistan, and, to conciliate the Amir, determined in like manner to send
a special mission to him. We had thought that, acting impartially, he would have
received it as he did the Russian mission, and that when the two missions were with
him he would have a good opportunity of analyzing both, and of deciding which was
the more favourable to his country. In that case we should have seen a spectacle
i such as has not been witnessed for the last twenty years. But, according to all
acounts, the Amir chose arrogantly to follow his own bent, and to calculate upon
the capital which he had in hand. But therein it is certain that he is placing
himself and his country in jeopardy ; for the English are evidently determined to defend
l their rights, even at the cost of losing their last man and spending their last farthing on the
enterprise. This is clear from the telegrams arriving from India, which set forth that the
Government of India is making preparations for the war, and is determined to measure its
strength with Afghanistan. We do not believe that the war will be of long continuance, for
the Muslim States beyond Afghanistan which are already held by Russia will back the (
Amir, kno wing, as their chiefs^ do ubtless know, th at -tire result of this war will tend to
j uphold the Muslim kingdoms. The Muslims of India, also, will ^'certainly adopt the
same view, for they know that during the late war the British Government was the
only ally of the Sublime Porte, and that it alone came forward with land and
sea forces to prevent the approach of the Russians to Constantinople. Hence it
is impossible that the Muslims generally can approve of the Atnlr making war upon
the English, and seeking to conciliate the Russians; and what is applicable to the
Sublime Porte is also applicable to this Afghan question, which will not be con
fined to the British Government and Shere 'Aly Khan, but will affect the Muslims
of the world at large, and in its onward course will deprive the Muslim States
of that tranquillity and security so indispensable to the improvement of their condition
and strength. If, therefore, it is the intention of the Amir to bring discouragement
upon the Muslims and to disappoint their hopes, he is exposing himself to the highest
censure, to opprobrium, and contumely, without knowing, moreover, what the result will
: be. For who can venture to assure us that this war will not involve all the Muslim
States, especially if it should become known that Russia is abetting the Amir ? Is Shere
'Aly Khan ignorant that the Sublime Porte is in need of the English to enable it to carry
out reforms in its remote provinces, and that his hostilities with the English will post
pone their execution indefinitely ? This, indeed, is what the Russians desire ; and, whether
he should be victor or vanquished, it will alike serve their purpose, for their hatred of
the English is on a par with their hatred of the Muslims. Is the Amir unaware, more
over, of the responsibility; which he will incur towards the people of the two Holy Places—
Makkah and al-Madlnah—and towards the pilgrims who will visit them this year ? Only
let them hear that a Muslim Amir has opened the way fpr the shedding of Muslim blood in
order to please the enemies of Islam, and they will load him with censure for his hateful
crime and will rise up like one man against him. It is not to be denied that there should
be some settlement of the differences existing between the English and the Amir such as
befits his exalted dignity, he being one of the Muslim Sovereigns; but how can any
such settlement be expected if he refuses to receive the mission from India ? We trust
that his religious sentiments, his patriotism, and compassion for his subjects will prevent
him from rushing headlong into this war, the horrors of which and the results of which,
he cannot foresee. We conjure him, in the name of the Creator, that he will not add
to the severe trials which the Muslims have undergone during the last fatal year,
I but that he will strive to establish his kingdom in that which will profit it, in that
which will be approved by Him who seated him on the throne, and in that which will
win for him the praise of all Muslims. In like manner we trust that the British Govern
ment will be disposed to be indulgent towards and to ^ soothe him, so that all differences
may be amicably settled, and friendship and amity be-established between them. Such
a result will be the confusion of the enemies of the Muslims, and satisfy the wishes of
every lover of Islam, We pray that God will inspire all Muslim Amirs with what is
well-pleasing in His sight, and convert their hearts to obey His commandments.
' ftUX htM /9
ENGLAND AND AFGHANISTAN.
The Times remarks that if the country has not yet made up its mind
upon the Afghan question, it is from no want of full and definite infor
mation on the most essential facts of the case. The facts are fully before
us, and we have only to discover the conclusion to which they point. If
there is any hesitation here, it must be attributed, not to the want of guides,
but rather to the excess of numbers in which they have offered themselves.
Before, however, we can approach the Afghan question, we must form
some opinion or other as to the position and designs of Russia. It is
these alone that can lend any importance to it. That Russia has been
advancing year after year and drawing nearer to our borders is a patent
fact. She has now come so close, and has been so active in promoting
her influence in a territory which does not belong to her, that we are
compelled, whether we will or no, to ask where she is to stop. If we do
nothing, we must be prepared to see Afghanistan fall quietly into her
arm?. Sir Bartle Frere's conclusion on the whole matter is, that in some
way or other we must make our own influence supreme in Afghanistan
and must get rid of Russian influence. This much granted, we have at
least a firm standing ground, and can proceed with some hope to a further
discussion of the question before us. Whatever we may think of the latest
phase of our Afghan policy, we can be in little doubt as to the position
to which it has conducted us. We are no longer free to choose in what
way we shall behave to the Ameer. Our conduct to him must now depend
entirely on his conduct to us. We can scarcely get off until we have
done some fighting first, on whatever terms we may think it well to shake
hands afterwards.
The Daily News cannot venture to guess what the substance of the
Ameer's reply to the Viceroy will be; but thinks it is at least probable
that it will be courteous in tone. As to its substance, however,
public opinion, in England at least, is in a far better condition to judge
coolly and impartially than it was some three weeks ago., The country was
So'nsos, ^5 m 5 no pamio Sanq |<Joq stuos 5 no ppj ^
JD^jrenb 9JuisdmuH 9i n V s 30nTS S ^P 13 P IB0 3
jo 5 o 3P Ts 9 id 9^ ^og-iwios.-iH swomuop* m u9iptiqo jo ^aBuaj
-uibui 9q? ioj paunoui mou sssuadxa aq; uiojj ssatji ^unoo sqi 9A9ipi oj
Sni^aspun ;u9uiuj9 aoo aq* psMOHOJ oq o; sui39s sajOA lymiaB
9qi o; suosud' qSnoaoq puB ^unoo 9q^ ioj oSiBqo aq; jo i9jsaB ; anj,
—fTT T -VT /"V-T tXTAT NT r\,T ^.T JO T TTTT t
Russian phraseolog^ desiring' to^cement their* frienSly 'and coinmercial relations with
Afghanistan, and, to conciliate the Amir, determined in like manner to send
a special mission to him. We had thought that, acting impartially, he would have
received it as he did the Russian mission, and that when the two missions were with
him he would have a good opportunity of analyzing both, and of deciding which was
the more favourable to his country. In that case we should have seen a spectacle
| such as has not been witnessed for the last twenty years. But, according to all
acounts, the Amir chose arrogantly to follow his own bent, and to calculate upon
the capital which he had in hand. But therein if is certain that he is placing
himself and his country in jeopardy ; for the English are evidently determined to defend
their rights, even at the cost of losing their last man and spending their last farthing on the
enterprise. This is clear from the telegrams arriving from India, which set forth that the
Government of India is making preparations for the war, and is determined to measure its
; strength with Afghanistan. We do not believe that the war will be of long continuance, for
the Muslim States beyond Afghanistan which are already held by Russia will back the (
Amir, knowing, as their chiefs^ doubtless know, that t he r esult of this war will tend to
uphold the Muslim kingdoms. The Muslims of India, also, will ."certainly adopt the
same view, for they know that during the late war the British Government was the
only ally of the Sublime Porte, and that it alone came forward with land an!
sea forces to prevent the approach of the Russians to Constantinople. Hence it
is impossible that the Muslims generally can approve of the Amir making war upon
the English, and seeking to conciliate the Russians; and what is applicable to the
Sublime Porte is also applicable to this Afghan question, which will not be con
fined to the British Government and Shere 'Aly Khan, but will affect the Muslims
of the world at large, and in its onward course will deprive the Muslim States
of that tranquillity and security so indispensable to the improvement of their condition
and strength. If, therefore, it is the intention of the Amir to bring discouragement
upon the Muslims and to disappoint their hopes, he is exposing himself to the highest
censure, to opprobrium, and contumely, without knowing, moreover, what the result will
be. For who can venture to assure us that this war will not involve all the Muslim
States, especially if it should become known that Russia is abetting the Amir ? Is Shere
'Aly Khan ignorant that the Sublime Porte is in need of the English to enable it to carry
out reforms in its remote provinces, and that his hostilities with the English will post
pone their execution indefinitely ? This, indeed, is what the Russians desire ; and, whether
he should be victor or vanquished, it will alike serve their purpose, for their hatred of
the English is on a par with their hatred of the Muslims. Is the Amir unaware, more
over, of the responsibility,which he will incur towards the people of the two Holy Places—•
Makkah and al-Madlnah—and towards the pilgrims who will visit them this year ? Only
let them hear that a Muslim Amir has opened the way for the shedding of Muslim blood in
order to please the enemies of Islam, and they will load him with censure for his hateful
crime and will rise up like one man against him. It is not to be denied that there should
be some settlement of the differences existing between the English and the Amir such as
befits his exalted dignity, he being one of the Muslim Sovereigns; but how can any
such settlement be expected if he refuses to receive the mission from India ? We trust
that his religious sentiments, his patriotism, and compassion for his subjects will prevent
him from rushing headlong into this war, the horrors of which and the results of which
he cannot foresee. We conjure him, in the name of the Creator, that he will not add
to the severe trials which the Muslims have undergone during the last fatal year,
but that he will strive to establish his kingdom irl that which will profit it, in that
which will be approved by Him who seated him on the throne, and in that which will |
win for him the praise of all Muslims. In like manner we trust that the British Govern
ment will be disposed to be indulgent towards and to j soothe him, so that all differences
may be amicably settled, and friendship and amity be-established between them. Such
a result will be the confusion of the enemies of the Muslims, and satisfy the wishes of
every lover of Islam. We pray that God will inspire all Muslim Amirs with what is
well-pleasing in His sight, and convert their hearts to obey His commandments.
" fCell heM' /£
ENGLAND AND AFGHANISTAN.
The Times remarks that if the country has not yet made up its mind
upon the Afghan question, it is from no want of full and definite infor
mation on the most essential facts of the case. The facts are fully before
us, and we have only to discover the conclusion to which they point. If
there is any hesitation here, it must be attributed, not to the want of guides,
but rather to the excess of numbers in which they have offered themselves.
Before, however, we can approach the Afghan question, we must form
some opinion or other as to the position and designs of Russia. It is
these alone that can lend any importance to it. That Russia has been
advancing year after year and drawing nearer to our borders is a patent
fact. She has now come so close, and has been so active in promoting
her influence in a territory which does not belong to her, that we are
compelled, whether we will or no, to ask where she is to stop. If we do
nothing, we must be prepared to see Afghanistan fall quietly into her
arm?. Sir Bartle Frere's conclusion on the whole matter is, that in some
way or other we must make our own influence supreme in Afghanistan
and must get rid of Russian influence. This much granted, we have at
least a firm standing ground, and can proceed with some hope to a further
discussion of the question before us. Whatever we may think of the latest
phase of our Afghan policy, we can be in little doubt as to the position
to which it has conducted us. We are no longer free to choose in what
way we shall behave to the Ameer. Our conduct to him must now depend
entirely on his conduct to us. We can scarcely get off until we have
done some fighting first, on whatever terms we may think it well to shake
hands afterwards.
The Daily News cannot venture to guess what the substance of the
Ameer's reply to the Viceroy will be; but thinks it is at least probable
that it will be courteous in tone. As to its substance, however,
public opinion, in England at least, is in a far better condition to judge
coolly and impartially than it was some three weeks ago., The country was
at that time a good deal misled by hasty and inaccurate reports. The
impression upon everybody's mind was that a courteous request made
by our Viceroy had been discourteously and instantly replied to by the
Ameer, who had ordered his commandant to signify to the Viceroy's
emissaries that if they dared to advance he would open fire on them. Now,
at all events, we know that the alarming and exciting reports were very
unlike the truth. The mission was stopped at what we may call the Ameer's
gate and told, not rudely, but rather civilly, that the Ameer had given no
authority for their admission, and that therefore they could not be admitted.
4 There was no threat of opening fire on them—there was no occasion
for any such threat. Now, whatever the determination of the Ameer may
be, whatever may be the terms of the reply which the envoy has brought, and
of the policy proper for the Indian Government to pursue in consequence,
it is clear that the condition of the facts thus far is very different indeed
from that which rumour at first represented. There is nothing for us to
grow wildly excited over. We can all afford to wait calmly for the Ameer's
answer.