The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 22, 1927. A COMPREHENSIVE TOUR.

Hokitika Guardian, 22 December 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. THURSDAY. DECEMBER 22, 1927. A COMPREHENSIVE TOUR.

The Amir of Afghanistan has started on a tour that will take him through .several of the principal Western countries in succession. By way of Egypt, Italy, and France, he will reach London in March next, and he will he theguest of King George at Buckingham Palace. On his return journey he will pass through Belgium, Germany, and Russia, eventually reaching Afghanistan again by Way of Central Asia. It is certainly a very comprehensive trip, and as the Amir has probably never been out of his own country Ivefore. we may fairly assume that his experience of life and his knowledge of foreign affairs will be considerably enlarged before he gets back to Kabul. Tjie

reigning Amir Ainiunillah Khan, says a contemporary, lias, like many of hits predecessors on the Afghan throne, passed through stormy times from Jiis .youth upward. In 1919 his father, Habibullah was murdered) and the succession of Ainanullah was contested by several rival claimants. It must he rememIxered that for many generations tho Amir of Afghanistan was merely tho chief of a dominant tribe, who claimed uied exercised authority not by hereditary right so much as by courage and lighting power. Like “Aluliir Ruhluan, the Duraui chief” of Kipling’s ballad, the Amir generally won his throne h.y the sword, and never expected to keep it on any other condiiions. His authority over the restless and warlike mountaineers who inhabit that debatable land depended solely

in his ability to enforce bis will, and iheir loyalty to him was always tempered hv greed, ambition, and love of independence. Before the war Afghanistan, having been force,l more than mho to recognise the military superiority of Britain, occupied to some extent the position of a vassal State. In return for a substantial pension the Amirs agreed not to negotiate treaties with other foreign Rowers, and at the raine time guaranteed the .security of the India it north-west frontier. Postwar conditions, and more especially the revival nV anti-British influence at Kabul through the medium of Bolshevik envoys, encouraged the Amirs to assert themselves more boldly, and in 1921 a treaty was arranged by which Britain recognised the complete national and diplomatic independence of Afghanistan, llahibullah had been inclined to win what advantages he could secure by playing off Soviet Russia against Britain. But Ainanullah seems to have recognised the danger to which I such double-dealing might expose him and his country, and he is much more strongly inclined towards Britain. Tt may prove to he an unfortunate accident that he is to visit; Russia last of all. and that he will return homo with the impressions produced by Bolshevik propaganda uppermost in bis mind.