The papers of North India cannot get over the idea
that Russia and Great Britain are engaged in a duel of intrigue in Central Asia, and Reuter about once a fortnight solemnly informs us that a Russian has been seen in Herat, or Candahar, or Cabal, and that he was believed to be " an Agent of the Russian Govern- ment." The report is flashed to St. Petersburg. and Simla, and is followed by grave statements that neither the Government of Russia nor that of India knows anything of such an Agent, and the public mind is more or less comforted. All the while, both Governments receive incessantly, though at intervals, reports from all important places in Central Asia, from paid native agents—as a rule, wonderfully accurate and trnstworthy—and can, if they please, find any number of " Agents " who will remain unknown to the other side. The Indian Govern- ment has Mahommedan servants whom it can trust, and half the Armenians in Asia are, when required, ready to be Russian Mamelnkes. It is simply impossible, in the present age of the world, to shut out spies, and quite ridi- culous to try. Herat will no more become Russian because the Czar knows what is going on there, and can send a letter thither if he pleases, than Fez will become English because Lord Gran- ville knows or can know exactly what the Sultan recently said to his Finance Minister. Do the Embassies in the different capitals, which are simply recognised organisations for espionage, breed wars, or prevent them ?
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