The Mission of Sir Mortimer Durand to Cabul has ended,
the British Envoy having received his final audience on the 13th inst. No details have transpired, but the Times' corre- spondent sends a most friendly speech made by the Ameer, and Reuter's agent in Cabnl has been authorised to state that the agreement is satisfactory to both parties, and will, it is hoped, remove all causes of future friction. The Ameer, moreover, appears to be greatly pleased, and at a review of his troops exhibited his regard for the British Envoy in a very marked manner. It is probable therefore that the dividing-line between the British dominion and Afghanistan, which is confused by some ancient rights on both sides to the allegiance of Pathan tribes, has been made definite ; that the Ameer has been reassured as to the defence of his northern frontier; and that our conduct in Chitral, the watch-tower State to the East, has been made clear to him. We shall not be surprised either, judging from the importance attached to the evidence that the A.meer has used our subsidy in equipping his army, to hear that it has been slightly, at least, increased. If Sir Mortimer Durand is contented, we may be sure that India has lost nothing by the conference; but we shall be curious to know the nature of the assurances as to the Northern frontier. Defending India on the other side of Afghanistan, with a Mussulman population between our advanced corps and our base, has always struck us as particularly risky work.
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