Mr. Dane, the Special Envoy recently sent by Lord Curzon
to Kabul, has described his reception there to an interviewer. His statement is not, of course, either full or clear, as the arrangements made have still to be sanctioned at home; but it does not appear that we have obtained any important advantage. The Amir Habibullah was most friendly, and the Mission was entertained—and guarded—with solicitous care. The Amir, however, had his great nobles, who are heads of clans, t6 think of, and found it impossible, as we gather from Mr. Dane's reticences and some information of our own, to go farther than his father had gone. He is the sincere friend of the British, upon whom he relies for pro- tection against external attack, but he is not prepared to admit British railways into his territory. His throne would shake if he did. We will not say that the Mission has failed, for it has increased the friendliness of the Amir, and made two or three "understandings" more clear; but its specific objects have not, we feel assured, been attained. There is nothing to regret in that. If any enemy comes from the North, the Afghans are perfectly certain to harass his com- munications; and as we need no more territory beyond the passes, we do not see why we should not be content with that conviction. It is said that our agreements are too vague ; but an Afghan will keep a vague agreement just as well as a care- fully drawn one,—that is, he will act according to his own conception of his own interest, which is clearly not to give himself a Russian master.
