REVOLT IN AFGHANISTAN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16865, 31 January 1929, Page 8

REVOLT IN AFGHANISTAN

BRITAIN’S ATTITUDE NO INTERFERENCE (British Official Wireless.) I’ee. 1 p.m. RUGBY. Jan. 39. In the House of Commons to-dav the Foreign -Secretary was asked for a statement regarding the attitude the Government proposed to adopt towards the present disturbances in Afghanistan. Sir Austen Chamberlain replied : “The Government lias no intention of interfering in fho internal affairs of Afghanistan by supporting or assisting any of the parties at. present contending for power in that country. It earnestly desires the establishment of a strong controlling Government and will he prepared when that- Government is established to show our friendship for the Afghan people by giving such assistance as it can in tie jeconsfruetion and development of the country. Xing Amanullah has formally announced his abdication to the British Government, and in consequence, until it is clear that despite that abdication lie is regarded as their king by the people of Afghanistan generally, the British Government will be unable to regard bis Government as the rightful Afghan (lovernment." Asked vvliaf had been the attitude of tint Afghan factions towards the British mission or consulates, Sir Austen Chamberlain said the various parties bad all respected Hie sanctity of the British Legation- at Kabul, although considerable material damage was done to the buildings last December when the ’legation lay in the line uf lire .between the forces of King Antimullah and Hnhibttlla Khan. -Siieilaily. the position of the British Consul at .Jalalabad appeared to have been respected by all parties, although there had been a report, which had not been confirmed, that the Consulate suffered damage lit the- course of the disturbances. No disturbances had taken place in the area of the British Consulate at Kbandaliar.

Replying to a question regarding the rescue of German nationals from Kabul by British aircraft, .Sir Austen Chamberlain said lie leceived from the. German Ambassador an the expression of his warm thanks for the services rendered, and the German. Government similarly expressed its thanks to the British Ambassador in Berlin in the following communication : “They would take the opportunity of expressing to His Majesty’s Government sincere thanks for the assistance rendered by it and bY the Indian Government, in rescuing German women and children from Kabul in most difficult circumstances. The German Government requests that its thanks may also he conveyed to the Government of India.”