The herald., 1921-11-10

prepared by the National Geographic DO
ciety. Washington. d. CO
Afghanistan, long almost synonym
for fanatiCal isolation from the rest OF
the world. is at last apparently show
Ing a desire to enter the family OF
nations. The MoSlem kingdom, which
even now continues its old policy of
exclusiveness pending the outcome OK
its negotiations, recently sent dele
CATION of mobiles TO Washington TO pc
tition the United States for the es-
Establishment of diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries.
AfghanistanS eXclusiveneSS Is not
accidental. Situated between the
southern growing empire OF Russia and
northern spreading British India, II
has been the typical buffer state; Its
natural exclusiveneSs, due TO religious
fanaticiSm, has been accentuated by
the political rivalries Of its great
neighborS.
Forbidden Lhasa itself Is no more
exclusive than broOding, suspicious
Kabul. the capital Of this isolate, un-
friendly realm Of fanatic tribes, OF
rocks. deserts, irrigated valleys and
towering unsurveyed ranges.
Not single railway or telegraph
line has been permitted To cross this
hermit country or to run into II, lesI
the pernicious ways Of the world leak
In. And the six or seven million people
have been hardly on speaking terms
with any other nation.
Few Foreigners Permitted to Enter
Night and day, from stone watch
towers and hidden hooks along the an
cient caravan trails that lead In from
India, from Persia and RuSSia-trail:
used long ago by Alexander and Jen
ghiz Khan-sQuads of bearded, tur
baned Afghans, with imported tielC
glasses and long rifles, have KEEP
watch against trespassers from with
out.
Only few Europeans, mostly Brit
ish but occasionally also an Ameri
! can and now and then a few Russian
or Germans, have been permitted t
enter this country and to sojourn 70
a while In its curious capital. But evel
| on such rare occasions as when for
| eign engineer, or a doctor whose sery
ices are badly needed. Is admitted b.
the grace of the amir. the visitor
subject to a surveillance that amount
almost to Imprisonment "Splen0i
isolation" Is sort Of Afghan tradition
q conviction that the coming of tn
foreigner will mean the send of tn
amir and of his unique, absolute ruiz
i As II is, no other monarch no.
Yields such undisputed authority or
in closer touch with the everyday III
Of his subjects. He personally run
his conntry's religion and its foreig
affairs, and he even supervises niue
Of its commerce. He also owns an
censors the, only newspaper printed
all AfghaniStan. Incidentally, he keel
IS automobiles. and he never walk
Even from one nearby palace to a.
other he goes by motor over sho
pieces of road built especially for h
~pleasCre.
Enough the amir took no active pa
In the World war, he emerged from
with singular profits. His old ar
once rival neighbOrs, Great Britain ar
Russia. drawn together as allies In Il
conflict left him a free hand. In 10
, Great Britain officially recognized Il
{ political independence Of this niue
{ buffeted buffer state, to whose rule
: she had so long paid a fat annuity.
Keeps in Touch With the World.
Afghanistan, with an area of 245,O
: square miles, Is, next to Tibet, d
: largest country In the world that
practically closed to the citizens
e other nations. But political life
y wary, alert MOhammedan Kabul Is
= sharp contrast to the meditative secl
! sion and classic aloOfness Of the Bu
dhist iamas at Lhasa. Through agen
| IN India and elsewhere Amir AmanI
lah Khan Is In close touch with {
. worlds current events; and, as {