Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-15
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL Y. COLLINS.

The not unexpected news comes from
AfghaniStan (by way of India) that
King AlnSnullah has abdicated in favor
of his brother, Prince Inayatullah. For
three months, Amanullah had been I'M
dertaking to modernize his kingdom,
after the manner of President Renal
in Turkey. but his reforms have led
to revolt by the barbarous mountain
tribes. Last week. the King revoked
all of his modernistic DEGREES, at the
dictation of the Moham.nedan priest
hood, but the retreat came too late.
An absolute monarch"-their clan Is
rare now in the world-has confessed
defeat in his determination to modern
ize an Oriental nation.
The women of Afghanistan were
ordered to abandon their wells in pub
lie; they are now authorized to continue
to hide their faces, as did their an
cestorS. The men were commanded to
substitute European clothes and to
learn the Latin alphabet, even as do the
Turks under orders from President
Renal, but they rebelled against their
King, Amanullah, and the order is
rescinded. Even the Afghan girls who
had been sent into Turkey to attend
undermining schools have been ordered
to return home. The King is defied
and defeated. after his capital had been
bombarded by tribal rebels. His Queen,
the leading influence in the attempted
reforms, is chagrined at the failure
King and Queen had spent months
travelling through Europe, last year,
where they saw the customs of the
Occident, and were impressed by
Europes superior civilization, as COM
pared with the barbarouS condition of
the Afghan tribes. Her Majesty no
longer hides behind veil: His Majesty
has appeared in public dressed like a
European gentleman. They were con-
WINGED that If Afghanistan is to keep
pace with the modern world, the people
must dress the part
That the King has changed his own
opinion is not even sugg csted, but
he has learned wisdom by the tottering
Of his throne in the last two months,
and he decided to approach his desired
reforms more discreetly. 1t is not pub
lie sentiment that brings his defeat,
but the combined resistance of the
tribal chiefs, who fear the loss of their
own rank and power If the feudal re-
lations are further modified.
Afghanistan is the most powerful ma
ton in Asia, except China and possibly
about the same population, or perhaps
greater. There has never been a CEN
sus, but the population is estimated
variously as ranging between 10000
and 100000. The people are divided
into tribes, ruled locally by chieftains
The entire tax income of the nation
is only about $4,000. 000-about 81
apiece on the basis of the lowest esti-
mate OF population. An important pro-
vision of the new royal concession is
that the soldiers have permission now
to become followers of the PRS. or
holy men," and the pledge has been
given by the King that there will be no
more consumption for military duty.
One of the complaints in the recent
rebellion has been that the soldiers
were not being paid. With that dis
satisfaction within the army and with
the FORGETTING of the right to draft more
soldiers 1t appears evident that the
power of the absolute monarch" was
so weakened that it would snap at any
time. A council of so men has been
created to change the laws to suit the
victorious rebels. 1t will take a mighty
Mussolini to remake Afghanistan.
Now that the fundamentalists of that
backward and unruly nation have
gained the upper hand, 1t is of interest
to note what are the outstanding char
acteristics of the people, and what is
their history. for their direction Is en-
tirely reactionary and their situation is
that of the key of Asia, in the gateway
between rival Russia and Great Britain
between Siberia and India, between
Turkey AMI China-betwsen Mohamme-
danism, Hinduism and Christianity.
X X II
Afghanistan has always been coun-
try of savage customs, including FAM
lily and tribal feuds calling for assas-
sinations The father of King Am
anullah was King before the present
monarch and was assassinated In 1919.
Thereupon, Amanullah's uncle assumed
the crown, until he saw the necessity
to write to his nephew that it was
farthest from his intent to do any,
thing displeasing to his dear nephew,
and begged permission to come and