On Friday, the Viceroy's proclamation of war was published at
Lahore. Its text has not yet been transmitted to England, but ac- cording to Reuter's very poor summary, it recounts the benefits con- ferred by Great Britain on the Ameer, especially his right to free- trade with India,—benefits requited only with discourtesy. It asserts that the Ameer had endeavoured to stir up a religious war .against the Empire, and while repelling a British Mission, had formally received a Russian Embassy. All subsequent at- tempts to promote friendship had been met with indignity and defiance, and the British Government therefore placed the responsibility of war upon Shere Ali alone. It had no quarrel with his people. It will respect the independence of Afghanistan, but "cannot tolerate the interference of any other Power in its internal affairs." That is to say, Afghanistan must become a vassal State. It will be noted that no word is said of a rectifica- tion of frontier, which Lord Beaconsfield has in the most public and formal way declared to be the object of his frontier policy, and that Lord Lytton relies entirely on the Russian bugbear as his justification. Did Lord Beaconsfield invent his reason for the war on purpose for the Guildhall, or has he no reason at all for it ?
