NOW, without entertaining pessimistic views, we regard the unwillingness of Russia to come to any definite arrangement of any kind whatever as one of the most serious features of the present situation. Even when she consents to some process of solution, which, if honestly and steadily pursued, would close the controversy, she invariably withdraws her assent, and restores the status quo ante of difficulty and danger. When just a year ago she consented to leave the settlement of the disputed frontier to be determined by Commissioners, respectively appointed by the British and Russian Governments, it was assumed, at least in Downing Street, that the question was as good as closed. But the Russian Commissioner never proceeded to the scene of his proposed labours, and Russia was represented there instead by an array under the command of such enterprising and energetic officers as Komaroff and Alikhanoff. No explanation and no excuse, whether good, bad, or indifferent, has ever been given by the Russian Government for not observing the engagement of June, 1834, to settle the boundary by means of a Commission. This, it is true, is ancient history, but it is none the less instructive when we find cotemporary history so closely resembling it. More then a month ago Mr. Gladstone announced that a means had been found of closing in an amicable and satisfactory manner the open book in which was recorded the unprovoked act of aggression on our protected ally the Ameer of Afghanistan. Russia had agreed to submit the matter in issue to the arbitration of a European Sovereign, and although considerable doubt existed as to the precise question on which the arbitrator would be called upon to decide, the Prime Minister informed the House of Commons that the terms of the reference would be communicated in the course of a few days. On this point, however, it would seem that negotiations are still "going on." Everything regarding the battle of Dash Kepri is now known to both Governments, and no one supposes that any difficulty has arisen in the choice of an arbitrator. But we are confronted with the unpleasant fact that when Parliament separated for the Whitsuntide recess the terms of the reference had not yet been drawn up, for the choice of an arbitrator made. Had any definite arrangement upon this point been come to during the past ten days we entertain no doubt that the gratifying information would have been permitted to leak out. We fear, therefore, that on this point Ministers will be unable to add anything when Parliament reassembles.
Morning Post, 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
