The news from Afghanistan is most unsatisfactory. Abdul.- rahman Khan
has, it is stated, received letters from the Indian Government offering, on certain conditions, to recognise him as Ameer, and has returned a most amicable reply, but with on6im- portant omission. He has diplomatised about Candahar. He was informed in the letters that the arrangement under which Can- dahar is made a separate State must be maintained, but in his reply assumes that he will be replaced in the territorial position of his grandfather, Dost Mahommed. This reply has created great distrust at Simla, where hesitation is apparent, evidenced by a summons to Mr. Lepel Griffin, the Political Agent in Cabnl, to advise the Viceroy. We still believe it will be found that the only decisive road out of the muddle is to restore Yakoob Khan, and then let the pretenders compromise or fight it out. We have no more to do in Afghanistan than in Timbnctoo, and the only man with a substantial claim on us is the Ameer, whom our friendship ruined.
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