THE later despatches are important as bearing upon two points -- the neutralisation of Penjdeh, and the arbitration. The first suggestion of neutralisation came informally to Lord Granville, but when he mentioned it M. de Staal he thought the withdrawal of Russian troops would be regarded by Russian "public opinion" in the light of a "retreat." Lord Geantille hinted that it might be spontaneously ordered by Russia. It was so, and then the Afghan troops were ordered not to occupy it. Lord Granville writes to Sir E. Thornton, May 8, " We have accepted the proposal (of neutralisation) on the understanding that pending the delimitation Russian and Afghan officers and soldiers shall not enter or remain in Penjdeh, and that the limits of Penjdeh. will be understood to extend only to the point north of Ma'ruchak at which the Russian Government proposed the boundary should pass through the valley." This was agreed to, and Penjdeh is now neither in Russian nor Afghan occupation. The arbitration proposal was at first resisted by Russia, but was eventually agreed to, subject to the limitations already known, and on the understanding that the negotiations should be resumed in London. This was a condition Lord Granville had suggested in his effective despatch of April 24. To the general public the most important points of the present despatches will be somewhat familiar, but they are, nevertheless, interesting as showing that England declined to resume negotiations until the Penjdeh incident had been set aside for separate treatment, Russia wanted to push it aside as if of no consequence.
York Herald, June 3.
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
