Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1930 THE AFGHANS AND THE BRITISH RAJ

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 4 June 1930, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1930 THE AFGHANS AND THE BRITISH RAJ

WHILE the British Empire awaits with interest the publication of tlio Simon Report, which some enthusiasts hope will prove to be the panucea of India's ills, the situation in that country cannot be described otherwise than as fraught with grave possibilities. Such being the case, the attitude of Central Asian Governments, and especially that of Afghanistan, towards -he Indian Government becomes of great importance, since they have it in their power to fan the flame of unrest in India; indeed, Afghanistan by marshalling its fighting men on the Indo-Afghan border could render immobile a large portion cf the troops of British India, and so directly encourage the Swarajists in their rebellious attitude. Though news from Afghanistan is meagre, there seems reason to think that its new king is not on'y friendly to the British Raj, but is fully engaged in establishing his power and re-organising his nation, after the acuto losses which it has suffered through the civil wars which ended in the depotism, firstly of King Amanullah, and, secondly, of the usurper, King Habibullah, better known as Baccha-i-Sakhau, "The Water Boy."

It was in October last that the latter was overthrown and slain by Nadir Khan and his brothers. By the middle of November the followers of the usurper and other opponents were subdued, and Nadir was firmly seated on the throne. Since that time the new king, who appears to have taken the title of Nadir Shah, has been busily engaged in consolidating his kingdom, and the stronger his rule the better it will be for the peace of Central Asia, and therefore of India. That at least seems to be the opinion of the Peshawar correspondent of the Calcutta "Statesman," who recently wrote to his journal: In some respects the great upheaval resulted in conditions most satisfactory to Afghanistan, as well as to the peace of Central Asia. It is not an exaggeration to say that the peace of the world would have been in jeopardy had it not been for the patience and great political foresight on the part of the British Government and the Union of Soviet Socialist' Republics. The way in which the Afghan situation was handled by both these Great Powers will go down in history' as a marvel of diplomatic skill. . . . King Nadir Shah, who may be appropriately styled the saviour of Afghanistan, has been called upon to rule and guide the Afghan nation in their hour of great misery. .

So soon as lie felt strong enough to do so, the new king invited and secured the I co-operation of prominent religious leaders in his administration, thus counteracting the policy of ex-King Amariullah, who had done much to alienate the sympathies of orthodox Moslems. Next, he called together two representative bodies (the Grand Assembly of the Learned and the Grand National Assembly) to advise him in the government of the country. At the same time he set up a strong Cabinet, in which sit two of his brothers and at least one prominent religionist, whom he made Minister of Justice, besides other notables on whose patriotism and loyalty he could depend. Another of his brothers he despatched to England as his Ambassador there, and his fourLh brother he sent to Russia in a similar capacity, in order that he might preserve friendly relations with the two Great Powers which control the countries southward and northward of his own. So soon as his rule was thus fairly established, the new king directed his attention primarily to the re-or-ganisation of his army and the marking out of a clear line as regards education. Himself a soldier, he recognised that the payment of troops in kind, instead of by cash, was a source of the greatest dissatisfaction, and consequently he arranged for the troops to receive their pay regularly in current coin, and so greatly strengthened his position. In reference lo education, he discountenanced all the innovations which had made King Amanullah so unpopular by reopening the schools for boys, but arranging that (heir curriculum should conform with Moslem ideals rather than with those of the Western world. There have been rumours that ex-King Amanullah at first supported the new political regime in his native country by offering *.n be its Ambassador in Italy, in which country he was living in exile. Next it was reported that he had journeyed to Angora, in order to solicit the good offices of Mustapha Kemal Pasha in effecting his return lo Afghanistan "if the circumstances should be propitious." But it is reported by those who know, that any attempt by the ex-King to regain his lost throne would probably meet with the direst disaster.

That, then, so far as is known to the ordinary gleaners of news, is the position in Afghanistan. The new King stands well with Russia and the Indian and British Governments, witli both of which he desires to keep the peace. Though all the bazaars of India and Afghanistan may be buzzing with news of what the Swarajists are doing, or are not doing, to set the Indian Government at defiance, King Nadir Shah is not likely to make any movement which will hamper the British Raj in India or affront the Government of Great Britain. There is one reason for anxiety, and that is the health of King Nadir Shah, who was an invalid when he undertook the pacification of his native country.

Provided his life is prolonged all will go well with his country. He is the undoubted master of Afghanistan, and his friendship to the British in India may be calculated upon. Therefore all wellwishers of British rule in India will desire the preservation of King Nadir Shah, who lias been rightly named the saviour of his country, and certainly isYmo of the outstanding Moslem rulers of to-day.