IN a despatch addressed to the Russian Ambassador on April 24, Lord Granville reminded M. de Staal that the assurance given by M. de Giers to Sir Edward Thornton on March 16 was "that the Russian forces will not advance from the positions which they now occupy, provided the Afghans, on their aide, do not advance an attack, or unless there should be some extraordinary reason for their advancing; such as a disturbance in Penjdeh," and " that the strictest orders had been sent to avoid a conflict by every possible means and not to incite to a conflict." These orders, however, do not seem to have been made public; while, as we anticipated at the time, an "extraordinary reason" was discovered for a Russian advance and attack. "The existence of Afghan outposts on the left bank of the Kushk," M. de Giers explained to M. de Staal, "had not been foreseen at the time when General Komaroff was ordered not to cross the boundaries of Penjdeh;" so that the Russian want of foresight is actually put forward as a reason for the Russian violation of a solemn engagement. On April 25 the Russian Ambassador told Lord Granville that "the Emperor and public opinion in Russia both attached such importance to the point of military honour" that he did not think any question would be admitted as to the conduct of the Russian military commanders; and allusions are more then once made in this correspondence to what Russian "dignity" requires. Both the "military honour" and the " dignity" of Russia appear to be not inconsistent with the violation of solemn pledges; and although we should not consider it to be the duty of England to resist by force of arms the Russian acquisition of Penjdeh, the correspondence shows that in future we must be careful bow we enter into engagements or make arrangements with. Russia. It seems that England has yielded everything that could "be yielded to Russia short of the domination, if not the possession, of Herat; and it is clear that the country must be prepared to see even this position occupied at no distant date, unless it is plainly stated that such an advance on the part of Russia would be tantamount to a declaration of war against the British Empire.
Daily Chronicle, June 2, 1885
Central Asia 1885
Central Asia 1885
Table of Contents
Miracles of healing - Christian Miracles or Healing
History of Russia: Christian Versus Barbarian
History of Japan: Early Christian Martyrs
The Jesus of History
The Assyrian Origin of Devil Worshippers
The Christ Of Dogma
The early history of Constantinople
