Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-15

kiss his hand. He never came, and
mas never been heard from since 1t
was mysterious disappearance. Like
wise, two brothers, both older than
Amanullah, were very earnest in pro-
claiming allegiance to this young
Joseph" and so Amanullah put the
crown on his own head, in 1919, and
nobody has asked any questions about
the assassination Of his father or the
disappearance of his uncle.
y X y @
In an official letter from the new
King, in 1919, to the British Viceroy
of India, the opening paragraph shows
how he mourned:
II am DESTROYS of informing my
friend. his excellency the viceroy Of
the great and mighty British Empire in
the Indian Empire, with much despair
and regret, of the particulars Of a
crime full of poignant grief, namely,
the crime of the unjust and unlawful
assassination of my late father, his
Habibulla King of the Government Of
Afghanistan, who was killed by a pistol
shot at 3 am. in his royal bed on
Thursday, the 18th of Jamadi-ul-Awal.
1897 Hijra, corresponding to the goth
of February, 1919 during his stay at q
place called Kalla Gosh, In his royal
dominions, by the hand Of a treacher-
Gus, perfidious traitor"
The communication announced MS
own accession to the throne, but made
mention of the rivalry Of his uncle,
whom he characterized as a usurper.
Under the former King, Great
Britain had had a treaty concerning
the boundary between Afghanistan and
India, but in spite of Amanullahs
assurance of utmost friendship and
good faith toward Great Britain, there
was war between the countries within
few months, over the boundary dis
pute. The war ended in British VIC
tory, and, as punishment for the
was the cancellation of the right OF
Afghanistan to import arms and am
munition, thereafter. through India.
Complete independence was assured
AfghaniStan, however, in relation to her
sovereignty at home and her foreign
relations, although for years the Car
of Russia subsidized the keeper of that
gate to India. Last year, when King
Amanullah visited England, he was re-
ceived with royal honors.
X X X 4
The established religion of the nation
is Sunni Mohammedan. and its priest
hood possesses power beyond the con-
ception of outsiders. In book by Sir
dar Ikbal Ali Shah. a native Afghan,
entitled "Afghanistan and the AfghaES,"
the writer says:
THE frowns of the clergy of Afghan
istan can imperil the safety of the
Afghan King or threaten his throne,
as their blessing can consolidate his
strength. A stronghold of religion
upon the imagination of the Afghans
is distinctly indicated. On the
other hand, there is no denying the
fact that the fanatical teaching of the
Mullas (priests) has harmed the prog
ress Of the country. The outlook of the
people is circumscribcd and a state Of
-sufficiency is instilled as the best
of virtues. Slightest dispersion from
priest-made dogmas is frowned down
upon and the ideas of an advancing
age are taken into no cognizance. The
lack of education. of course, adds to
the attachment of the people to the
word of the clergy, for what they have
not read, or are incapable of reading,
must be true. they think, because the
Mulla said so. The clergy would not
conceive of any modernization: as the
laws of Allah are unalterable, so also
Is Tie Me OF man. Wnat was good
enough during the reign of Ahmed
Shah Abdali is good enough for King
Amanullah, and consequently no new
laws are required indeed. laws are good
for nobody: the aeroplane was an afrit;
the wireless the voice of the Devil: the
railway, an unclean, dangerous contrap-
tion"
The wonder Is that King Amanullah
VINO must have known this spirit of his
subjects from his youth UP, vet had
the temerity to seek to override it with
sudden introduction Of radical reforms,
mostly suggested to himself and his
Queen. upon their visit to Europe with
IN the last year. The second wonder
In that he expected to retain his crown
n defiance OF the hierarchy or that he
1as not yet been assassinated.
Copyright, 1929. BY Paul v. Collins,