The Fortnightly Review: No. CCCCLXIII, New Series [‎604r] (98/239)

THE MARQUIS OF LANSDOWNE.
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none of these added to Lord Lansdowne’s responsibilities when he
landed on her shores.
Since the alternative policy of the subjugation, or the disinteg
ration, of Afghanistan was wisely abandoned, the Conservative
policy has been to build up the kingdom of the Amir into a strong
and independent State. But it is of vital importance to British in
terests that the ruler in Cabul should regard the Government of
India with a friendly eye. The close proximity of the Russians,
and their increasing influence with the Amir, caused much appre
hension to the Indian Government in the early ’eighties. Nor was
this feeling mitigated in the least by the scoffs of the Liberals, and
the late Duke of Argyll, who in a happy moment characterised it
as mere “ Mervousness.” There w r as imperative necessity to
draw Cabul into closer touch with Simla. Lord Dufferin had this
object in view when he held the celebrated 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). in 1885 at Rawal
Pindi with Abdur Rahman, who had constantly to be reminded that
he ow T ed his throne to British bayonets. But news of the collision
between the Russians and Afghans was received on the first day 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). , and complicated matters. Diplomacy was laid aside
at once, and Lord Dufferin made energetic preparations for war
with Russia. During the interval in which peace hung in the
balance, supplies for two army corps were pushed up to within a
short march of Candahar. The scare had at least one excellent
result, for the work of the delimitation of the North-West boundary
of Afghanistan was pressed forward to an early completion.
Lord Lansdowne re-opened the negotiations with the Amir on
the lines of his predecessor’s policy, but to the surprise of official
dom Russian influence, the exercise of which was first detected
in 18A), again prevailed. The Amir declined to receive the pro
posed mission. I he grave possibilities suggested by this open
insult brought the question of frontier defence into prominence.
Lord Lansdowne resolved to leave nothing to chance. In com
pany with Lord Roberts the Commander-in-Chief, and other
military advisers, he inspected every mile of the frontier, and all
the British posts and fortifications. He rode through the Kohal
Pass and visited Peshawar. He explored the Khyber Pass of evil
memory and its environments. Arriving at Attock he embarked
for a three days’ expedition down the Indus. He visited Quetta,
and inspected the British fortifications on the Gomal, the Kojak
and the Bolan passes.
The immediate outcome of this comprehensive survey was that
the number and strength of the various frontier posts were in
creased. During no period of the same length were so many
defensive works carried out. To Lord Lansdowne’s foresight and
initiative was due the rearrangement of the railway systems of