Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1921-10-05

tFr-Far.a ~ IN. Naileaai osographis So
cictF. Washtngtpn- d -
AfghanIsian. long almost synonym
for fanatical isolation from the rest 81
ERE world. Is az last apparently show
Ing a desire TO enter the family 81
nations. Tie Moslem kingdom. which
even now continues It's old policy 81
exclusfveness pending the outcome 81
a. negotiations. recently sent dele
rutiou a. mobiles 60 Washington 20 pc
ution the United States For the es-
adjustment ~ diplomatic relations be-
tween the two countries.
Afshanistan's exclusiveness Is not
accidental Situated between the
southern-growing empire ~ Russia and
northern spreading British India, u
HaS hem the typical buffer state: its
Eafural exclusiveness. due Go religious
fanntIcism. has been acccntuated by
the political rivalries 81 its great
NciehhorS.
Forbidden LhaSa itself Is no more
exclusive than broOding. suspicious
Kabul. the capital OF this isolate. un-
friendly realm ~ fanatic tribes. Of
recks. deserts. irrigated valleys and
towering unsurveyed ranges.
Not a single railway or telegraph
tine has been permitted 10 cross this
hermlt country or 20 run into IL, lest
tllc perniCious Ways ~ the world leak
tn- 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
Gent caravan trails that lead In from
India. from Persia and Russia-trails
used long ago By Alexander and Jen-
ghiz Khan-squads OF bearded. mr-
eaned Afghans. with imported field
glasses and long rides. have kept
watch against trespassers from with
cut.
Only n few Europeans. mostly Brit
Ish but occasionally also an Ameri-
can and now and then a few Russians
or Germans. have been permitted 10
enter this country and TO sojourn for
. while Ia It's curious capital But even
on such rare occasions as when for
eiEn engineer. or a doctor whose serv-
ices are badly needed. Is admitted by
the grace OF the amir. the visitor is
subject 10 q surveillance that amounts
almost 10 Imprisonment. "Spleadid
Isolation Is a sort ~ Afghan tradition.
q conviction that the coming 81 the
foreigner VIII mean tie end 81 the
amir and % his unique. absolute rule.
As il Is. no other monarch now
Yields such undisputed authority or Is
In closer touch with the everyday life
% his subjects. lie personally runs
his country's religion and it, foreign
affairs. and he even superyises much
q its commerce. lie also owns and
ccnSa-s the only newspaper printed In
an Afehauisfan. Incidentally. be keeps
rs automobiles. and he never walks.
Even from one nearby palace 90 an
other he Eoes BY motor over short
plpccs - road built especially for his
pleasure.
Though the amir took no active part
IN tire World war. he emerged from u
Nth singular profits. lis old and
ance rival neighhors. Great Britain AMI
Russia. drawn together as allies In the
cruFIct. left him = free hand. In 1919
Great Britain officially recognized the
political independence OF this much
huTpsed buffer state. 60 whose rulers
she had 50 long paid 4 lat annuity.
Keeps in Tcuch With the World.
Afghanlsfan. with an area ~ $4,000
square miles. l.. next 20 Tibet. the
largest country In the world that Is
practically closed O. the citizens 81
ether nations hut political life nj
wary. alert Mohammedan Kabul = IN
sharp contrast - tie meslitative Seciu-
sson and classic aioofness ~ the Bud.
dhisf Iarias az Lhasa- Through agents
fn India and elsewhere Amir Amanul-
hh Khan Is In close touch with the
.sslE's crsrent events; and. as the