THE AFGHAN QUESTION.

Inangahua Times, Volume X, Issue 1541, 29 April 1885, Page 2

THE AFGHAN QUESTION.

A RUSSIAN JOURNAL ON THE SITUATION. The St. Petersburg correspondent «»f the 'Times' writes: — "The 'Novoe Vremya ' pours out the vials <»f it* wrath iv a somowhat threatening tone. England, it intimates, is only now reaping what Lord Beaconsfield sowed for it ; and every nation in Europe, even small Belginm and Portugal, no longer feels the least timidity before English influence «r threats, to say nothing of Russia. Indeed, so low is English prestige that the " Novoe Vremya ' seems to share the opinion of thu 'Cologne Gazette,' which' it quotes, that Russia need have no fear ■ at British protests, as England cannot possibly go to war with Russia, and will inevitably be compelled at last to accept Russia's conditions. 'We do not want j India itself," says the ' Novoe Vremya,' ' but we want to have a thoroughly secure position alongside of that empire, and we are perfectly certain that no permanent peace and quiet between Russia and England is possible until we have our natural frontier, whether it suits certain Khans and Ameers or not.' The 'Novoe Vremya ' also, alluding to the report that the British Government will probably fortify and occupy Herat, adds that if j such be England's views, they will result in the complete destruction "of all agreements between the two Governments. On the other hand, I have heard it stated .by a very high personage hare that the : Russian Government d<>es not care much what we do with Herat as long as we give Russia what she claims in the natter of frontier rights. "