Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-01-21

which would thus be caused to q weak
and unofrending neutral. country. the
Germans. and the Turks at the dicta-
ton of the Germans. set themselves
from the start to do what was posi-
BILE to create a state OF fanaticai chaoS
in Persia. The Turks started by the
violation of the southwestern frontier
with an armed force, which was
promptly expelled by US; the Germans
with mule loads Of ammunition and
money to itinerate Persia and stir up
trouble as they went.
These German agents. posing as
principles of Islam, managed. in the
first instance. by cajolery and bribery.
to meet with a certain amount OF sue
cess. In the large trade centers they
ton against the British and Russian
copsuls and colonies. and, raising hired
gangs of bandits. contrary to the fun
damental laws of neutrality, they ter
rorized the country.
Suffice it that the success of these
agents was brief. Thanks to the strong
action taken by the Russian troops In
the north, the military action taken
by ourselves in eastern Persia ana tne
innate friendliness and good sense OF
the Persian government, the situation
gradually cleared.
daQ EHeCC on OCHeIS.
These German intrigues in Persia
had their inevitable effect also on
Baluchistan and on Afghanistan. In
Baluchistan a wave of unrest passed
along the Mekran border, resulting in
one or two serious raids and fanati-
cal outrage, in which two valuable off,
GERS lost their lives. The infection
spread. indeed. as far as the Sind bor-
der of the Bombay presidency. but
prompt action was taken. Detachments
of troops were moved to the disturbed
areas. and. thanks to the cooperation
and loyalty of the leading sardars the
trouble was soon suppressed and com
plete tranquility again prevails.
In Afshanistan already inf1am-
matory condition was increased by the
arrival there. before our Gordon of
troops could stop them. of a Turco-
German mission sent for the express
purpose of detaching Afghanistan from
it's allegiance to Great Britain. The sit
uation in Afghanistan has. indeed, been
most difficult and delicate since the en-
try of Turkey into the war, and it
would be Impossible to give too much
credit to the amir for the statesman
like manner in which he has steered
the ship of state through the reefs OF
religious excitement and political in
trigue.
Amir Stood Firm
"On the outbreak of war with Ger
many the amir guaranteed his neu-
trality. On the entry of Turkey into
the war and on subsequent occasions
he has solemnIy reaff1rmed his inten-
ton to maintain this attitude. His diff
ficulty however, in doing so cannot be
overrated. His people are now begin
ming to realize what he, with his states
manlike insight, realized from the be-
rxip ircf hat
ness for Afghanistan. lying as it does
between two great powers, Russia and
Great Britain. to throw itself into the
vortex of the war; secondly, that no re-
ligious issue whatever was at stake,
that, though Turkey, under the guild
ance of an entirely irreligious military
clique, had been drawn into the con-
test, Islam was in no way threatened,
he should adhere faithfully to his en-
gagements to the British government
so long as the British government. on
their side observed those engagements.
This brings US to the northwest
frontier tribes who inhabit the belt OF
territory lying between the administra-
tive border of British India and the
Durand line, or Indo-Afghan bound
airy. These tribes enjoy seml-lnde,
pendent position under what is called
our political control. The extent of
that control varies in different areas,
but the general system is to avoid in
terference in the internal affairs OF
these tribes and to leave them to live
their lives as they desire so long as
thew respect the pax Britannica OF our
settled districts and protected areas.
The system on the whole, works ad-
mirabIy, but of course these wild
tribesmen are liable to fanatical out
bursts.
Trouble in Two Quarters.
"Of late there have been only two
quarters of the frontier which have
given rise to trouble. In the south the
Mahsuds a tribe of freebooters, with
out any communal system, have tried
to take advantage of our preoccupa-
border Those raids, however. have
been summarily dealt with, and the day
of reckoning will come in due course
In the north the Mohmands have again
of late shown an inclination to give
trouble. Their borders stretching along
the Peshawar district have, however,
been reinforced, and a blockade has
been established which will without
doubt give them the required lesson
and bring them to their senses.
Concerning Tibet. l need only say
that the relations between the govern
ment of India and the Dalai Lama are
of the most cordial nature. Indeed, the
Tibetan government is now on terms
of friendship with the government Of
| India such as have probably never ex-
listed before, and this really is all that
we desire. Our only desire in regard to
| Tibet Is to see it left to itself to de-