Evening star., 1901-11-14
AFGHANS' NEW AMEER
Habib Ullah Ruler With Tendencies
Toward Reform.
RUSSIAN AND ENGLISH ADVANCES
Doubt as to Present Conditions in
CabuL.
ABDUR'S QUAINT BIOGRAPHY

nc" era IN tne political life of the east a
renewal of the campaign between Russia
ana England for suzerain influence in the
little kingdom of Afghanistan. The sicnl6-
| canoe of that day lies In the termination OF
Afghans' forty days of mourning for the
late ameer. Abdur Rahman. and the full
succession OF Habib Ullah, his eldest son.
Until the latter's policies are developed the
mountain Businesses of Caboolistan. Herat.
Balkh and Candahar will divide with South
Africa the attention of the British and
with Manchuria the diplomatic interest of
the Russians. 1t is not unlikely. from the
activity Of both governments, that the con-
troversy may soon grow from the represen-
tations and replications of diplomacy into
warfare of more serious nature.
According TO the press dispatches from
Europe, Habib Ullah has already given as
surance OF his Partially toward both ma
tions
A dispatch from Simla. through Iondon
dated October IL. says: "Habib Ullah
Khan. the new Ameer of Afghanistan has
officially informed Lord Curzon the vice.
roy of India. that he will follow in his
fathers footsteps, hoping that the friend
ship existing between the Afghan and
British governments will continue to in
crease In reply the viceroy transmitted
TO Cabul an acknowledgment of Habib Ul-
lah as ruler of the Afghans and a message
OF coincidence and congratuation from
ihils IIu"dTu over lGe Oeatn OF ABOUT
Rahman and the sons accession. AS a fur
ther evidence of his British leanings, il is
cited That the present ameer was educated
py young Indian rajput, who received his
entire training in British India, and who
was one of the most distinguished gradu-
ates Of the famous Lahore University
This tutor. Sultan Mohamet, is now expect
cd to return to Cabul as grand vizIer and
prime minister and WELD his almost unlim-
tied influence on behalf of the English
Russias claim is set forth in two recent
dispatches from st. Petersburg. BY ;he
first 1t is reported 1.-THE brothers of Habib
Cllah Kahn left Cabul secretly with their
parusans The moment their father died
October ID. and therefore cannot be said
TO have acauiesced in the accession of their
brother. Habib Ullah. indignant at their
flight. has taken measures to defend the
capital and sent strong detachments to pre-
vent their return or to endeavor to capture
them as rebels. He has further resolved to
ask assistance of Emperor Nicholas and
the Ameer Of Bokhara'
The second Russian item is in the follow
ing form:
ST PETERSBURG, October 23-The
Russian minister of war, General Kouro-
patkine. when releasing six Afghans who
had been imprisoned on suspicion of being
spies informed them, according 10 a dis
patch from Ashkabad, that Abdur Rahman
was dead and that Habib Ullah reigned as
his successor. adding. The Russians have
always considered themselves the friends
of the Afghans, and we wish to remain so
in the present change of government. Re-
port yourselves to the nearest chieftain and
tell him what you have heard from the
Russian minister Of war. T"
Development of New Ameer.
OF the inclinations of the new ruler noth-
ing is really known outside his provinces
except that he reposed the greatest conn-
dence in the tutor of his youth and upheld
with all his might the political teachings
of his sturdy and severe old father From
the last named he learned to suspect both
powers. but to suspect the Russians the
more. Sultan Mohamet, the tutor is sup
posed to have taught his charge the most
implicit faith in England's high purpose
toward her provincial peoples. The ameer's
mother was slave. the daughter Of the
Emir of Fyzabad, but woman of surpris-
ing education and intellect, and her infiu-
ence is said to have been always on the
British side of the scale.
The ameer is still young man. He is
not, however, wholly inexperienced in the
art of government. During the rebellion OF
1shak Khan, in 1887 Abdur Rahman set out
at the head of his army and left the eldest
OF the princes at home to rule. The old
warrior has himself left a record of Habib
Unah's conduct during that crisis. He
governed the country 50 wisely, cleyerly
and in accordance with my Wishes" wrote
the father, that i conferred two orders
upon him-one for his distinguished services
in the administration of the kingdom, and
a second for having very braveiy put stop
to mutiny which was caused by my own
soldiers OF the kanQalaf-f1aZara
He acted most brayely on this occasion,
riding alone into the midst of the rebellious
soldiers without showing any fear of their
injuring him. Since that time Habib Ullah
has been authorized to hold the public dur
bar in the ameer's stead, as have full con-
fidence in his tact and wisdom"
The First Month of His Reign.
In spite of the St. Petersburg story given
above, in which the present ameer is rep
resented as at war with his brothers, IT is
generally accepted the succession on the
death of Abdur Rahman was without op-
seizure In the third week of September,
but his Illness was kept secret On Sep
tember 2S he summoned his family, the eX-
alted personages of the state and the chief
priests. All his sons were present but one
-Afzul Khan. boy of thirteen years. Alb
dur was pitiably weak. when a king be-
comes old and inflrm and near his end,"
he said feebly to those about his bedside,
''he always desires TO nominate his sue
cessor. 1 wish to have my successor cho-
sen now. Consider among yourselves whom
name him to me-" The ameer's hearers
are said to have been so much affected they
could barely reply, but to nave indicated
unanimously a preference for Habib Ullah
on the ground of his eight years assist
ance to the dying king The prince
accordingly summoned to the fathers bed
side and given Abdur Rahman's sword
and belt. his jewels and a volume con-
tanning his will and instructions fer the
management Of the state. The yoiIrge-
sons then placed the crown on Habib IT,
lah's head. Ameer Abdur died on Oc-
tober 1. For two days his death was kept
a secret while the chosen successor ar
ranged his peaceful assumption of the
throne.
Habib Ullah's reign is only about a
month old. But the new ameer has al
ready made himself wonderfully popular
with his countrymen. His first step was to
increase the pay Of his soldiers and pro-
claim prospective reduction Of the taxes
on land He then ordered the release OF
selected prisoners in various Afghan Jails,
q most unusual proceeding on the part OF
the Cabul government. About a week ego
he made liberal advance to the mer-
chants Of Cabul to stimulate eheir trade
and revive their former flourish.ng com-
merce with India. which his father had
practically choked to death with iJnposts.
Afghan hopes are now centered on the re-
moval of the transit duties and the aboli-
tton OF certain oppressive monopolfes. which
Habib Ullah's subjects believe would re-
vive the ancient caravan trade between
India and Afghanistan. The effect OF the
reforms already ordered and the promise