THE TWENTY-THIRD WAR: THE AFGHAN WAR. 47 



and it accordingly massed a British force on the frontiers, and on the 

 2nd November an ultimatum was sent to Cabul which involved the 

 issues of Peace or War. 



In the meantime a Conference was agreed upon to meet at 

 Peshawer, the Ameer's Minister, Moor Mahommed, and Sir Lewis 

 Pelly, to discuss the question of the admission of British agents to 

 Afghanistan; but, on the 26th of March, the Conference was deferred 

 in consequence of the death of the Afghan Envoy, and, subsequently, 

 on the ground that there was no longer a basis for negotiations, this 

 Conference was finally abandoned at the very time that a fresh Afghan 

 Envoy was on his way to Peshawer, with authority to accept the con- 

 ditions of the British Government, and the Governor-General of India 

 was aware of this. 



The fact was, the door of conciliation was violently slammed in the 

 face of the Ameer, for it was the foregone conclusion of Lord Lytton, 

 the Governor-General of India, to force on a War in Afghanistan, for 

 the overthrow of the Ameer, and of Russian influence at Cabul, and 

 thereby to secure the ascendancy of English control and power under 

 what Lord Beaconsiield described as the shadow of a '■'■scientific 

 frontier'' 



A declaration of War being proclaimed by the Viceroy of India, 

 the British troops advanced, captured Ali Musjid, after a feeble 

 resistance, which was followed by successes at Peiwar-Kotal ; and, 

 on the 20th December, Jellabad was entered. 



The Ameer, Shere Ah, frightened by these victories, fled from 

 Cabul, and sought protection on Russian soil, for he considered 

 resistance hopeless, and before abandoning the country, released from 

 captivity his son Yakoob Khan, and entrusted to him full powers as 

 Regent. Yakoob lost no time in proceeding to the British head- 

 quarters at Gandamuk to make overtures for peace, and on his 

 arrival there, he was received with distinction by the British General, 

 for his succession to the Throne was not disputed, Shere Ali having 

 died of a broken heart at Taskend. On May 26, 1879, a definite 

 Treaty of Peace was signed, which contained conditions for the 

 exclusion of foreign — i.e., Russian — influence from Afghanistan, and 

 a rectification of the frontiers — i.e., the creation of "a scientific 

 frontier " in favour of India. 



In accordance with the Treaty, a British Resident was appointed, 

 and on the 24th July Sir P. Cavagnari was cordially received at 

 Cabul, accompanied by a squadron of cavalry and a battalion of 

 infantry, under the command of Lieutenant Hamilton, but their 



