Opening the text

The heart of Asia : $b A history of Russian Turkestan and the Central Asian Khanates from the earliest timesSkrine, Francis Henry

History

The heart of Asia : $b A history of Russian Turkestan and the Central Asian Khanates from the earliest times

Name: The heart of Asia : $b A history of Russian Turkestan and the Central Asian Khanates from the earliest times
Author: Skrine, Francis Henry

Skrine, Francis Henry

Asia, Central -- History; Asia, Central -- Relations -- Russia; Russia -- Relations -- Asia, Central

*       *       *       *       *

“There is no necessity to insist on the palpable interest of Russia in
restricting the growth of her territory and preventing the advent of
complications in distant provinces which may retard and paralyse our
domestic development.

“The programme which I have just traced is in strict accord with this
policy.

“People of late years have been pleased to credit us with a mission to
civilise neighbouring countries on the continent of Asia. The progress
of civilisation has no more efficacious ally than commercial relations.
These require, in all countries, order and stability as conditions
essential to their growth; but in Asia their existence implies a
revolution in the manners of the people. Asiatics must, before all
things, be made to understand that it is more advantageous to favour
and assure trade by caravans than to pillage them. These elementary
principles can penetrate the public conscience only when there is a
public; that is to say, a social organisation and a government which
directs and represents it. We are accomplishing the first portion of
this task in extending our frontier to points where these indispensable
conditions are to be met with. We accomplish the second when we
undertake the duty of proving to neighbouring states, by a policy of
firmness as regards the repression of their misdeeds, but of moderation
and justice in the employment of armed strength and of respect for
their independence, that Russia is not their foe, that she cherishes no
designs of conquest, and that peaceful and commercial relations with
her are more profitable than disorder, pillage, reprisals, and chronic
warfare. In devoting itself to this task the Russian Cabinet has the
interests of the empire in view; but we believe that its accomplishment
will also serve those of civilisation and humanity at large. We have a
right to count upon an equitable and loyal appreciation of the policy
which we follow, and the principles on which it is framed.

                    “GORTSCHAKOFF.”




APPENDIX II


The present Minister of War, General Kurapatkine, delivered an address
at Askabad, on the 25th November 1897, to some members of a party of
English tourists, which is really a remarkably frank enunciation of
the policy of his Government in Central Asia. The full text runs as
follows:--

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Opening the text

The heart of Asia : $b A history of Russian Turkestan and the Central Asian Khanates from the earliest timesSkrine, Francis Henry

History

The heart of Asia : $b A history of Russian Turkestan and the Central Asian Khanates from the earliest times

Skrine, Francis Henry

Asia, Central -- History; Asia, Central -- Relations -- Russia; Russia -- Relations -- Asia, Central

*       *       *       *       *

“There is no necessity to insist on the palpable interest of Russia in
restricting the growth of her territory and preventing the advent of
complications in distant provinces which may retard and paralyse our
domestic development.

“The programme which I have just traced is in strict accord with this
policy.

“People of late years have been pleased to credit us with a mission to
civilise neighbouring countries on the continent of Asia. The progress
of civilisation has no more efficacious ally than commercial relations.
These require, in all countries, order and stability as conditions
essential to their growth; but in Asia their existence implies a
revolution in the manners of the people. Asiatics must, before all
things, be made to understand that it is more advantageous to favour
and assure trade by caravans than to pillage them. These elementary
principles can penetrate the public conscience only when there is a
public; that is to say, a social organisation and a government which
directs and represents it. We are accomplishing the first portion of
this task in extending our frontier to points where these indispensable
conditions are to be met with. We accomplish the second when we
undertake the duty of proving to neighbouring states, by a policy of
firmness as regards the repression of their misdeeds, but of moderation
and justice in the employment of armed strength and of respect for
their independence, that Russia is not their foe, that she cherishes no
designs of conquest, and that peaceful and commercial relations with
her are more profitable than disorder, pillage, reprisals, and chronic
warfare. In devoting itself to this task the Russian Cabinet has the
interests of the empire in view; but we believe that its accomplishment
will also serve those of civilisation and humanity at large. We have a
right to count upon an equitable and loyal appreciation of the policy
which we follow, and the principles on which it is framed.

                    “GORTSCHAKOFF.”




APPENDIX II


The present Minister of War, General Kurapatkine, delivered an address
at Askabad, on the 25th November 1897, to some members of a party of
English tourists, which is really a remarkably frank enunciation of
the policy of his Government in Central Asia. The full text runs as
follows:--

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The heart of Asia : $b A history of Russian Turkestan and the Central Asian Khanates from the earliest times

The heart of Asia : $b A history of Russian Turkestan and the Central Asian Khanates from the earliest times

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