AFCHAN TROUBLES.

Evening Star, Issue 20054, 20 December 1928, Page 6

AFCHAN TROUBLES.

Thk mistakes of a young man in a hurry can have serious consequences when he happens to be a king. Amauullah of Afghanistan is not so young—in only a few years now ho will be forty—but his haste to convert Ins kingdom to Western ideas of progress may be dangerous rashness when all the circumstances are considered. Amanullah’s zeal for reforms makes no new manifestation on his part, but his impatience to enforce them has been quickened since his recent tour of Europe, and he has gone very fast since he returned from that trip. One of his first acts was an order of compulsory education, for which ten dollars a year was to lie collected from families who could afford it. His subjects can complain, therefore, that he has corrupted the youth of the realm in erecting grammar schools. A race that in its mountain fastnesses lias l&eu used to despise all but the hardiest and most primitive accomplishments can deplore that “thou hast men about the§, that usually talk of a noun and a verb, and such abominable words as no Christian [or Mohammedan] ear can endure to hear.” The greatest scandal was caused when, at a great reception given to their Majesties on their return from Europe at Kabul, tbe Queen took her place at a public table without a veil. As part of his measures for the emancipation of women, the king is determined to abolish the “purdah”; it is not required, he says, by the original doctrines of Islam. Bub tho priests, who have been the strongest enemies of his reforms, will have their own opinions on that question. Government officials have been forbidden to take more than ono wife. At an assembly of notables held recently His Majesty required the representatives to shave their beards, to sit on benches, and to use cups, saucers, and spoons. Amanullah’s capacity for distinguishing between essentials and non-essentials must bo considered doubtful, because frock coats and felt hats were also issued for them to wear. Even the ordinary European would complain if ho was expected to wear a frock coat in Afghanistan, Universal manhood suffrage has been introduced, and a national assembly is to be elected. Compulsory military service has been extended from two years to three. All titles and all ceremonial uniforms and decorations, with the exception of the “ badge of independence,” were recently abolished, and all forms of com-

plimcntary address likewise prohibited, so that even the King and Queen’ will be addressed simply as “My dear The power of tho religious leaden has been reduced greatly, and their influence upon tho people has been no doubt used to provoke disaffection against these changes. There las been rebellion in Afghanistan, and according to some reports the King’s forces have been hard put to it to hold their own. There have been fears for the safety of the European legations in Kabul. But the latest reports discredit these more disturbing rumours. A British agent, Sir .Louis Cavagnari, and all his retinue were murdered in Kabul just fifty years ago; but that outrage, which caused the renewal of tho third Afghan war, made famous by Lord llobnts's remarkable inarch, ia not likely to be repeated now. Disturbances in Afghanistan .cannot fail to make concern for British' statesmen, since that country lies on the borders of India. Great Britain claims, howover, no control over its affairs. Such suzerainty as existed formerly was abandoned after the short war with Amamillah of nine years ago. It is never known how far the long arm of the Soviet may not be connected with disturbances. An Asiatic people, cut off from communication with others by their mountain frontiers, cannot be naturally westernised in a generation. King Amanullah would be wise to proceed slowly with his reforms.