New-York tribune., 1919-02-25
HabibuIlah Khan.
Afghanistan Ameer,
Murdered in Camp
Attacked in Early Morning
and Shot Dead, Says Of
fetal Report in London;
Had Spectacular Career

LONDON, Feb. "a - Habibullah
Khan, the Amir of Afghanistan, was
murdered on February 20, it was an
nounced here to-day.
The announcement was made by the
official press bureau, which received
lacking, but it appears that the Amir
was attacked early in the morning
while in camp at Laghman and shot
dead No arrests in connection with
the murder have been reported. The
motive for the crime is still obscure.
Habibullah Kahn. Amir of Afghanis-
tan, was born July 3, 1872, the eldest
of five sons. His father, Amir Abdur
Rahman, reigned over the turbulent
monarchy from 1880 until his death,
October 1, 1901. Abdur Rahman
ascended the throne virtually by prof
fer of the British government. DIFF
ferences with which, two years before,
had led to the second Afghan war.
He agreed to leave the control of
the foreign relations of the country
to Great Britain, which, on its part,
engaged not to interfere in the internal
affairs of Afghanistan, and in case of
foreign aggression to aid the Amir
After the succession of Habibullah
Kahn formal treaty, signed March 81 =,
1905, ratified tht agreements unreserv-
edly
Appoints Three Brothers
At the death of lis father Habibullah
at once announced his succession to the
rulership. Trouble had been feared as
result Of expected efforts of other
claimants to seize the throne. but it did
not materialize. Habibullah's first act
as Amir was to announce the appoint
ment of three of his brothers as heads,
respectively, of the army, the revenue
department and the judicial depart
m ment: He ifto:rr,mally adopted the title
OF SlraJ aJ-ul-Millat wa ud-din, Lamp of
the Nation and Religion" and under
his rule Afghanistan was subject to
fewer disturbances within and less
friction from without than in the
regime of any Of his predecessors.
Not only was the treaty with Great
Britain renewed, but when the ANGLO
RUSSIAN convention was signed in 1907
Great Britain disclaimed any intention
OF altering the political status of the
country or Of annexing more territory
there, while Russia recognized Afghan
lstan as outside the Russian sphere
of influence
In 1910 Habihullah negotiated, on
behalf of his domain, a treaty with
the BRITISH government in India, by
which future disputes were to be set
tied by joint commission.
Called POnu}ar PuIor
Habibullah was regarded, in so far
as Oriental monarchs could claim such
distinction, as q conspicuously popula
ruler. Tall, active and strong phvsi
cally, and of some personal force, his
nrst measures as emeer were designed
to enhance his popularity and to i'm
prove the administration CT internal
AFFAIRS. In 1917, the year Of the sign
ing OF the Anglo Russian Convention.
he visited Lord Minto, the Viceroy Of
India, and strengthened the relations
OF the two governments.
For several years before the death
of his father the reins of governmen.
had been virtually in his hands. AL
though Afghanistan nominallv is an
absolute monarchy, the degree of power
welded always has varied with .he
personality and ability of the heredi-
tary ruler.
Among the measures VIII ch gave
Habibullah his status with his people
was the establishment of Council of
State to settle tribal disputes, and The
PRONUNCIATION of DEGREES modifying and
ameliorating tax and other abuses Of
long standing