THE House of Commons re-assembles to-day after the "Whitsuntide recess, but the business on the notice paper is unimportant, and, as the Cabinet will not meet until to-morrow, it is not probable that any light will be thrown this afternoon on the questions of the hour. The negotiations with Russia, as we have already stated, have not yet, in spite of heedless assertions to the contrary, resulted in a settlement of the issues involved in the Afghan frontier controversy, nor can we forecast, at present, with any confidence how soon the announcement of their conclusion is likely to be made in Parliament. It is reasonable to accept as the explanation of perplexing delays the inference that, however desirous M. de Giers may be to come to an understanding with England on the basis of the large concessions made by the British Government, the military party at St. Petersburg are strong enough to stand out for more and to contest the possibility of surrendering even the single point -- the possession of the Zulfikar Pass -- on which it had been universally believed Russia would consent to yield back to the Ameer of Afghanistan a fraction -- if only for the sake of appearance -- of the territory General Komaroff's troops had occupied. The difficulties thus raised with respect to the possession of Zulfikar may be overcome, if the Government show a firmness in which on greater occasions they have been found wanting, but while the dispute remains unsettled it is premature to expatiate on the diplomatic achievements to be presently disclosed to the country.
Another question, of not less gravity, must in a. short time be brought under the notice of Parliament. The proceedings of the Suez Canal Commission in Paris have been watched with considerable uneasiness, and, if the Continental Powers were to persist in the proposal of an International Commission, embodied in the 10th article of the draft treaty, we should look with anxiety for the course to be taken by the Government. It must be remembered, however, that the subject has still to come before the delegates at Paris is " plenary meeting," and there is some reason to hope that the European Governments will withdraw from a position in which it would be impossible for England to acquiesce. Supposing it were practicable to subject English trade to annoying and embarrassing restrictions in the spirit which seems to animate the debates of the Canal Commission at Paris and the proceedings of the Sanitary Conference at Rome, in what way would Europe be the gainer? The mercantile enterprise of this country would find its way once more to the East and the South by the ocean route around the Cape of Good Hope, and the Suez Canal would be ruined as a commercial undertaking.
Times, June 4, 1885.
The Meeting of Parliament
Belgium: Antwerp International Exhibition
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
