The Times of Monday published, in advance of all other
papers, the text of the new Treaty with Afghanistan. As was expected, it simply renews the arrangements made with Abdurrahman Khan, father of the present Sovereign; under which Afghanistan, consented, on condition of a subsidy of 2120,000 a year, to have no relations with any foreign Power except Great Britain, and Great Britain pledged herself to defend Afghanistan against unprovoked aggression from abroad. The only change made is that the Amir, who hitherto has been called "His Highness," will henceforth be recognised as an "independent King," and will be styled "His Majesty." As the change of title makes no difference, as the Afghans, if attacked, are certain to call upon us for aid, and as the extension of the Indian railway system into the new " kingdom " is, owing to tribal jealousies, impossible, we are content with an arrangement which our enemies will pronounce a failure. We should gain nothing by the " pene- tration " of Afghanistan, whether " peaceful " or "warlike," except a most expensive right to maintain armies at Kandahar, Kabul, and possibly Herat. We have too much to do with our small Army already without isolating divisions beyond the Himalayas.
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