The Russo-Afghan question and the invasion of India

G. B. (George Bruce) Malleson

Sujets

• Great Britain
• Afghanistan
• Boundary
• Soviet Union

Informations

• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 7
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 11 Mo

Extrait

%JE LUC.BLI S T--\B
! :;:;;#,#" '^^ \THE
RUSSO-AFGHAN QUESTION
AND THE
INVASION OF INDIA
BY
COLONEL G. B. C.S.I.MALLESON,
" THE ANDAUTHOR OF GRANARY GARDEN OF CENTRALHERAT, ASIA,'
"
HISTORY OF ETC.AFGHANISTAN,"
SECOND EDITION
LONDON
GEORGE ROUTLEDGE AND SONS
HILLLUDGATEBROADWAY,
YORK: LAFAYETTENEW PLACE9
1885HENRY MORSE STEPHENScue.
PREFACE.
inRUSSIA has at last ! Afterspoken years patiently spent
the she reached in the borders of theabsorbing desert, 1884
was to toland. Her first act on therepromised arriving object
inthe frontier which Lord Granville had October,proposed
which the of her dated1872, she, by despatches Chancellor,
hadin andrespectively December, 1872, 1873, accepted,January,
and which in Russian and alike everEnglish maps has, since,
been marked as the in a weak tofrontier. Yielding, moment,
an somefor the of derivingobjection posed solely purpose
from the of a settledpractical advantage re-opening question,
Lord Granville Commissionerswith Russia thatarranged
fixshould be sent from both countries to the to there thespot,
of Russia'sexact line of demarcation which was to be the limit
advance towards India. In of this anconsequence agreement
of inserviceEnglish Commissioner, distinguished India, pro-
ceeded without to the He founddelay point agreed upon.
there the the the the but novalleys, rivers, mountains, people,
Russian Commissioner ! The Russian Commissioner was,
his to counterbalance thatindeed, absence, but,conspicuous by
of Russian soldiers crossed the line whichabsence, parties
since had been as the of the coun-1872-73 accepted boundary
and seized useless for mosttry, positions, commercial, impor-
tant for since thestrategical, purposes positions which, year
and even before that had tribute to Herat the1863, year, paid
north-western of the dominions of theprovince England's ally,
Amir of !Afghanistan
To show the if of thewe wish still to holdnecessity, India,
an of of the Russia hasretention, by ally England, positions
seized to demonstrate the absolute of the Amir to those
; right
and the lawlessness of the of Russia inactpositions, seizing
them to set before the the cherished ultimate; clearly public
5144096 Preface.
aim which Russia to the of the desert andprompted conquest ;
to out how the of an iron resolution alone canpoint display
avert from Herat and India the threatened I havedanger,
written I have written not as athe that follow. them,pages
but as an Not as a man, first,party man, Englishman. party
that the two in the State havebecause, believing great parties
I have out with mis-alike theblundered, pointed impartiality
takes of both. Not as a andman,party secondly specially,
because in a matter the maintenance of anaffecting Empire
should silence the selfish contentions ofthe voice of patriotism
in it is an which is now atparty. For, very deed, Empire
and it is efforts alone that the crea-stake, by patriotic splendid
and our fathers' fatherstion of our fathers can be maintained.
The form in which this little book is will make itpublished
accessible to all classes. It will tell those classes the truth,
will them a sacredthem theand, telling truth, impose upon
That above all to insist that the Minis-duty. duty is, things,
ters of shall with to our Indianmaintain,England respect
old historical of that the Ministersthe policy England ;Empire,
of shall Russia to withdraw herEngland compel unjust pre-
to retire behind the frontier which she has violated.tensions,
If of Great Britain fail to thisthe people perform duty, they
in awill become born of ofpartners policy, infirmity purpose
which will lose for us our Indian !and cowardice, Empire
In criticisms I have struck at cherishedmy outspoken may
and wounded vanities. In with aprejudices personal dealing
crisis which is the of mistakes in thepartly consequence past,
it was to avoid this. But to thoseimpossible absolutely doing
who be affected and to I wouldmay by my criticisms, all,
thus the words of the of writers :appeal, using greatest English
"Who is here so base that would be a bondsman ? If any,
for him have I offended. Who is here so rude thatspeak ;
not be awould Briton? If for him have Iany, speak;
offended. Who is here so vile that will not love his ?country
If for him I I forhave offended. aany, speak ; pause reply."
B. MALLESON.G.
WEST CROMWELL27, ROAD,
28 March, 1885.