“If Russia is bent upon a war she will not withdraw her troops from within the Afghan frontier as she has been demanded to do by the British Government. It will then remain, for Her Majesty’s Ministers to issue an ultimatum and formally declare war. The war is not of England’s seeking.”
MARCH 11, 1885
The Central Asian crisis
RUSSIA IS DETERMINED TO FORCE AWAR UPON US. SHE BELIEVES that England’s difficulties in the Soudan furnishes too good an opportunity to be passed over. There was a faint hope that the autocracy at St. Petersburgh might be persuaded to abandon its aggressive policy and by diplomatic negotiations an arrangement might be arrived at which would satisfy both parties. But this hope is now dispelled by the announcement of the ministerial organ, the Daily News that negotiations have reached a critical stage. If Russia is bent upon a war she will not withdraw her troops from within the Afghan frontier, as she has been demanded to do by the British Government. It will then remain for Her Majesty’s Ministers to issue an ultimatum and formally declare war. The war is not of England’s seeking. Various causes have been working, upon the minds of the Russian statesmen and they induce them to uphold perpetually a war-like foreign policy. They have inherited the mission of carrying out the mandate of the greatest of their sovereigns to establish the Russian capital on the Bosphorus: and the designs of the disaffected subjects of the Czar necessitate occasional diversion of the people’s minds from their revolutionary teachings to a so-called national war abroad. It is hoped that the thought of a common enemy threatening the interests of the Empire will induce the Czar’s ignorant subjects to forget his autocratic mis-Government and their own demands for a constitutional form of government and to look upon him with feelings of sympathy instead of dislike. It is impossible that Russia can sustain the strain which such a policy must cast upon her financial resources. The ignorant people who entertain a vague feeling of reverence for their sovereign may part with their money under the impulse of their excited loyal feeling. But the country must nevertheless sink the second time into a state of insolvency if it undertakes a war with England. A war between England and Russia is likely to involve other European countries also. Turkey will, of course, join England to revenge herself on her old enemy; although England has done everything to justify her adopting an attitude of cold reserve, yet it is the interest of Turkey to join England in any engagement against Russia. If Germany means to interfere at all, she might perhaps have done so earlier than now; even now it is to be hoped that Prince Bismarck will offer to mediate between the lion and the bear. It is hardly to be believed that without the encouragement of Germany or directly against her advice, Russia will be foolish enough to play the costly game of war with England. If Germany, however, gives any sort of encouragement to Russia, England, we suppose, can calculate upon France offering her help as a counter move. Meanwhile the northern Bear is restless. Russian troops are said to be moving southwards from the Caspian Sea, and if the Bombay Gazette’s information is to be credited, there has been already an encounter between the Russian and Afghan troops. Altogether the situation is critical and further information will be awaited with great anxiety. The central Asian problem must be solved at some time if not now. And if Russia is particularly anxious to have it solved now, England will see no reason why she should not accept the invitation, although any suggestion of an amicable settlement will not be disregarded in the least. But she can under no circumstances tolerate any encroachment on the integrity of Afghanistan which Her Majesty’s Ministers are pledged to uphold both on account of their past pledges and of the on the integrity of Afghanistan which Her Majesty’s Ministers are pledged to uphold both on account of their past pledges and of the requirements of the safety of the Indian Empire.
Reference:
The First 100
A Selection of Editorials, 1878-1978, THE HINDU, VOLUME I