Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-12-26

AFGHAN|STAN CLOSED
LAND TO FOREIGNERS
Visitor Takes His Life in His Hands,
Says Consul Henry
d. Baker.
Christianity Punishable by Death.
Hardly Field for Amer
lean Business.

lions in Afghanistan. which a Christian
enters on pain Of death, has been made
to the Department of Commerce by
United States Consul Henry u. Baker, on
special commercial service i'm the far east.
Mr.. Baker calls Afghanistan the buffer
state between British India and the Rus
sian possessions in Asia. 1t has an area
OF 2t1ooo square miles and population
estimated at 500 900. though no census
has ever been taken. Its inhabitants are
without exception Mohammedans, and.
save only Tibet. il is the largest closed
country in the world. presenting the an
achronism of nation in the twentieth
century which forbids the entrance into
its territory of the foreign missionaries
either Of religion or commerce. as we'll as
making the profession of Christianity
among its subjects punishable by death.
Guards Are Necessary.
If any person particularly wishes to
visit Afghanistan, he can get into the
country only by interesting the amir per-
s"nally i'll the object of his visit, which.
however, it may be found very dincult
10 do. Mr.. Baker says. No CONNER
clal traveller can get into Afghanistan
unless the amir might be induced TO take
an interest in his particular line of bust
ness. Even then ii would not be found
trip into Afg anistan unless the amir
would personally guarantee ones comfort
and safety and provide a military escort to
haoul or kandahar, or wherever else it
was desired TO go. In fact unless the
Afghanistan government itself assumed
an expenses OF such trip and gave
guaranty as 10 certain amount of prof
Itaoie business it would probably never
pay Tor any American business or man
ufacturing firm to send a REPRESENTATIVE
INTO the country. the expense of travel
ana OF transport of personal supplies
would be SO great as TO offset any profits
which might be expected.
Must Go at Own Risk.
After application has been made tn
the amir for permit, or frman, to
visit Afghanistan-and by having adj
Hanced some particularly potent argument
the firInan may perhaps be granted-the
deputy secretary to the government of
India i'll the foreign department. if he
deems IL wise, viii then grant permission
TO cross the frontier at the travellers
own risk.
a regulation letter granting such per-
mission to representative of a business
house in Bombay. of which | have a
copy, reads as follows:
: With reference to your letter dated
-, | am directed to inform you that
the honorable the chief commi ssoner and
agent to the governor general in the
rected TO allow Mr.. of your firm to
cross the frontier, subject to the produc-
ton by him of his majesty the amirs
firman and the political agent in the
khyber pass being satisfied that the
Afghan government has made arrange
ments for Mr.. IS escort and transport.
- am TO add that the government
OF India accepts no responsibility what
ever in connection with the object of
Mr.. IS journey to or stay in Afghan
istan. and that he proceeds there at his
own risk.
Few Foreigners There.
About the only instances in which
Europeans or Americans have ever been
allowed to travel into Afghanistan is
when machinery or other articles have
beer required by the amir or his gov
ernment, or special medical assistance
needed at the court At present there
are understood to be six Europeans and
two Americans residing in. the country.
among the very few European persons
who have for any length Of time So
journed in Afghan'stan within recent
years may be mentioned 4. T. Thornton,
who established government leather
and boot and shoe factory at Kabui and
wrote. In 1909. a book entitled Leaves
from an Afghan Scrapbook': DIR. j. 4.
Gray. who was private physician to the
late amir, and wrote, in 1901. a book en-
Titled My Residence at the Court of the
Amir and Mrs. Kate DAILY. physician to
the anir's harem, who wrote. in 1905.
e"s Untitled Eight Years Among the
Afghans.'"
.,dlIer refers to the late DR.. T. L.
Penneil. an English medical missionary.
a. having been the best authority on the
frontier tribesmen of Afghanistan. He
gained their confidence and esteem after
ears Of effort, but the relations between
the frontierSmen and the English gener-
ally are far from cordial.
REDFIELD SENDS GREETINGS