The Pamir _ trouble is probably over, the Czar having disapproved
Colonel Yanoff's proceedings. The Novosti Freesia of St. Petersburg declares that there can be no war -tetween Great Britain and Russia on account of the Pamirs, because Russia is not seeking more uncultivated
territory, of which she already has too much, but " to find an outlet on the Indian Ocean," and thus obtain free access to the general waterway of the world. That is a frank statement, and, as we believe, a true one ; but it contains rather a formidable menace. Russia can reach the Indian Ocean only in one of two ways,—namely, from Herat, via Candahar and Beloochistan, or by the direct route from the Caspian to the Persian Gulf. Her possession of the former route would be simply intolerable to India, which would have to keep a hundred thousand Europeans always ready for action ; while the latter involves the conquest of Persia, and the settle- ment of the question whether Englishmen intend to bear that. We do not ourselves see why we should dread Russia on the Persian Gulf, where she would be within the range of British ironclads ; but we very much doubt whether Englishmen in general take that view. It is satisfactory, however, for the moment to be assured that, in Russian popular opinion, the Pamirs are valueless.
