THE "FORWARD" POLICY. 437 told so well the story of the Tirah campaign, though not opposed to the frontier policy, and recognising the force of the reasons that led the IndianGovernment to sendSirMortimer Durand toCabul in1893 to arrangefor a definite frontier in the debatable land, nevertheless are agreed in this:that the new treaty was indirectly the source of most of the North-Western Frontier troublesin the years that have elapsed since it wasmade. Sir George Robertson, an expert in frontier politics, puts the matter so clearly that without theirconsent. But a stillgreaterdanger was the opportunity it gave for a singularly acute Oriental diplomatist to play upon the bigoted sentiment of ignorant and easily prejudiced tribesmen, and to misrepresent the honest intentions of the Government of India. Such a mancouldeasily persuade those freedomloving mountaineers that the real object of the ever-advancing military empire of India was to annex, sooner or later,all the country up to the boundary lines fixed by the joint commissions.

THE NILT FORTS FROM THE SOUTH.

his words on the subject may be quoted at length :— Insinuationsandsuggestions of this kind would not be considered unfair moves in the game of diplomacyin most countries,eastern or western. The effect all along the North-West Frontier ofIndia has been that eversince 1893 the tribes have become restless and distrustful, nervously anxious about every movement on our part, and always ready to hearken to the ravings of any rabid priest ofIslam."

"Tothe superficialobserver,"he says,"nothing could seem morestatesmanlike than tolay down distinct boundaries demarcating respectively the spheres of influence of the Amir of Afghanistan and of the Government of India, and so to prevent all fear of collision between those two powers. A weak point, however, in the plan was the practical ignoring of all the intervening tribes, who, as they owed allegiance neither to the Afghan chief nor to the Government of India, not unnaturally objected to what they imagined was the parcelling out of their country The Amir himselfwasnot particularly pleased with the new boundary. It took from him districts he had hoped to reduce under his rule. It removed the " buffer region" held by the tribes and brought our border line into touch