AMIR SUES FOR PEACE.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 214, 4 June 1919, Page 7

AMIR SUES FOR PEACE.

STERN PUNISHMENT TO BE EXACTED

STATEMENT IN PARLIAMENT

"ACT OF SUICIDAL FOLLY" By Tckcraph-Prcßß A6eociatiou--CoD7rlEtil London, June 2. Official: The Amir of Afghanistan haa SL'iit ii letter to the Viceroy of India (Lord Chelmsford) asking for peace, and declaring that ho never intended to Hover friendship with Britain,—Aau.-N.Z, Cable Aisii. NADIR ICHAN IN WAZIIUS'i'AN. (Rec. Juue 3, 8.30 p.m.) Simla, June 1. The Afghan General Nadir Khan haa entered \Vazirist-au tribal territory along ihitt! routes with Aiyliun regulars and tliirty-fiix guns. Their, attacks on our lxwts were faint-hearted. 'They failed to make any impression, contenting themselves with long-range i-niuing. Evidently they arc uncertain on which Bide the WiiKiiis' sympathies lie. The ninepounder guns u=ed by the Afghans in recent .skirmishes have very Ht.tle ,de< slruutive effect. There is no chanco of the enemy reaching Bannu or Kohat. Our concentrations are proceeding rapidly. The Afghan troops (led from Birkot, mid our advance continues. Measures have been taken to punish the villagers at Ulmanzai, twenty miles from Peshawar, whero the ringleaders of a dangerous intrigue were arrested. This hae had a quietening effect iu Peshawar.Router. . ■ ■ •.

A DELAYED MESSAGE. (Rec. June 3, 8.10 p.m.) London, May 22 (delayed). Large forces of Ai'RUans are lacing the British oxi>editio». Tiie Afghan regulars, beiiiK well armed and well equipped in every way, are formidable adversaries. The British concentration of forces east of the Khyber is proceeding steadily. The Amir's attempts to raise Iwrder tribes has generally failed, though some are wavering. Owinp lo desertions the British have disbanded the Khyber Kifl.cs. Tlin British representative at Kandahar Ims reached Quetta. He saye that a jehad (a holy war) is being vigorously preached.—Aus.-N.SS. Cable Absn. STATEMENT IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS STERN PUNISHMENT TO BE EXACTED. (Rec. June 3, 11.20 p.m.) London, May 22 (delayed). Mr. E. S. Montagu (Secretary for India), speaking in the House of Commons, said I but it was now clear that the new Amir of Afghanistan, iii :> moment of suicidal folly, had authorised an unprovoked attack on India. Ilia motives were doubtful. We desired nothing except friendly relations with this neighbouring, country, but intended lo exact a stem and just punishment for the raids and invasion.—Aus.-N.il. Cable Assn.