The efforts of the British Government to arrange with that
of Russia for a delimitation of the Afghan frontier have apparently failed. The Commission, headed by Sir W. Ridgway, -sent to St. Petersburg to settle the few remaining questions in dispute has been received with perfect courtesy and a great display of interest, but with no willingness to make the smallest concession. As surrender on our side has already gone too far, it will, it is reported, break off negotiations, and return home. The incident is annoying as an indication of Russian temper, and as a discouragement to Abdurrahman Khan ; but it has no other importance. If the Russians intend to in- vade Afghanistan, they will not respect boundary-stones ; and if they do not intend, the Tarkoman and Afghan shepherds and herdsmen can quarrel for a few years more as they have done for ages. So long as we are ready on the Indian frontier, and the railway along the Indus is com- plete, we can afford to let things happen in Afghanistan, where the mountaineers will hold their own quite long enough for us to decide upon our course. We are not quite sure that it is not -convenient to be able, when an aggression occurs, to raise a little geographical discussion while India gets ready. She is apt to be a fortnight behind in the matter of Army transport.
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