The Invalirla Russo publishes a long and probably inspired article,
the object of which is to state that, although General Loinakin is not going to Merv, but only to chastise some Turkomans, the understanding between Great Britain and Riissie, in Central Asia, arranged by Prince Gortschakoff and Lord Clarendon, has ended. It has been terminated by the new position which England has assumed in Afghanistan, and which, as the Ruseian contends quite fairly, has put an end to Afghan independence. This intimation, if official, is a serious one; but the writer asks whether "England and Russia are necessarily called to an absolute and irremediable anta- gonism in Asia, which would react fatally on. all their foreign policy." That is the question both Cabinets have been putting for nearly half a century, without get- ting the negative reply which, whenever their frontiers march, they will obtain in a week. The cause of die- trust. between England and Russia in Asia is the existence between them of a zone of weak, neutral States, which each fancies itself bound to protect, conciliate, or overawe. We invade Afghanistan for fear Russia should, and she conquers Mery for fear we should. Neither is benefited in the. least by either acquisition, and neither would be so ready to quarrel if the frontiers touched.
Previous page
