...Gorchakov, issued a memorandum to embassies throughout Europe, one that raised eyebrows in England: The position of Russia in Central Asia is that of...happens that the more civilised state is forced, in the interests of security of its frontiers and its commercial relations, to exercise a certain ascendancy...

...secure against the restive tribes beyond. In an oft-quoted circular of 1864, Prince Gorchakov stated: The position of Russia in Central Asia is that of all civilised states which find themselves in contact with half-savage, nomadic populations ... In such cases, it always happens...

...November 14, 1864, Gorchakov justified the advance into Central Asia as the pattern of "all civilized states which are brought into contact with halfsavage nomad populations possessing no fixed social organization." Such states "in the interests of security" had to defend their frontiers and reduce...