AFGHANISTAN

Hokitika Guardian, 27 February 1929, Page 5

AFGHANISTAN

EVACUATION OF NEUTRALS. 9 (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). RUGBY, Feb. 25. To enable him to evacuate diplomatic missions from Kabul, Sir H. Humphre.vs arranged for several hundred .men to work throughout Saturday on the landing ground, stamping down the snow and clearing it with shovels, so tnat the conditions, although still difficult made it possible for a plant to be put into operation yesterday and to-day. Kabul authorities ga.ve friendly assistance by permitting the employment of workmen to prepare the ground for landing and taking off of the machines, which to lift heavy loads of passengers and baggage, required skilful handling by tbe pilots. It is' emphasised in well informed Ixnidon circles that the withdrawal of the British legation from Kabul does not mark any change in the. Britirh Government’s attitude to events in Afghanistan, which continues to be one of the strictest neutrality and noninterference with internal Afghan affairs. The maintenance of a diplomatic mission in Afghanistan has failed to achieve any objects, since there is no generally recognised Government ;n that country at the moment, and since the safe evacuation of British subjects and other foreigners wishing to leave there has also been desired on the part of the British authorities to avoid any situation in which their representatives unintentionally might be subjected to danger in circumstances which might involve intervention on their behalf. In accordance with the neutrality, British Consular officers are also being withdrawn from Kandahar and Jalalabad. Equal facilities for evacuation from Kabul had been extended to the Ger- . man Minister, his staff and nationals. Actually the Germain Minister, together with two other Germans were brought away in an aeroplane on Sunday! As, however, some German nationals were either unable or unwilling lo wind up their affairs in lime t' leave by 4 aeroplane, the German Charge d’Affaires, von Plessen. was taken in a British machine to Kabul at the end of last week to watch over their interests in place of the German Minister, who is in ill-health. AWAY FROM KABUL^ , ,lßeceived this day at 8 a.in.) ; DELHI, February 2- ' Sir H. '.Humphreys, along with the French and Italian Ministers has arrived nt Peshawar. Upon arriving nt Lahore General Nadir Khan had a great reception. The crowd were at fever heat when Amanullah was on the throne of his ancestors.