HATED EX-QUEEN SOURIYA

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17237, 17 April 1930, Page 4

HATED EX-QUEEN SOURIYA

BLAMED FOR CIVIL WAR NOT A FRIEND IN AFGHANISTAN RAWALPINDI, Feb. 22. The situation in Afghanistan at the moment is quiet-but a revolt on a large scale may occur at any moment, for the more "warlike tribes, such as the Wazirs, the Mahsuds, and the Shinwaris, are far from contented. Nadir Shah—the King—i.s seriously ilt and the government of the country is "being conducted by his Ministers, many of whom are unpopular with the tribesmen. Fears are already being expressed, with no uncertain voice, concerning Nadir's likely ultimate successor, and a rumor of ox-King Amanullah's return has spread rapidly throughout Afghanistan. ' By many Afghans Amanullah's return" would be welcomed, by many tribes it would bo strongly opposed. But all the numerous races comprising Afghanistan's heterogeneous population are united in resisting the return of the ex-Queen. "HEATHENISM."

Rightly or wrongly, Souriya is accused of being primarily responsible for the recent civil war. It is alleged that it was she who urged the removal of the veil and who introduced European dress. She is charged with attempting to convert a strict Mussulman country to "Western Heathenism ." Queen Souriya will never be accepted again in Afghanistan. The Shinwaris, who ousted AmanulInh from the throne in January or' last rear, are discontented. They have decided thai the new King is following in Amanullah's footsteps, though his progress is far slower. SOVIET MONEY. No tribesman in Afghanistan will brook foreign interference. In the archives of'the Citadel at Kabul have been found documents concerning negotiations between Baclia Saehao (the bandit who usurped the throne as the Amir Habibullah and was defeated by Nadir last October) and Russia. When Bachn was at the height of his power he almost completed nrrangementfl for loans from Russia, as well as supplies of ammunition. The discovery of these papers has caused apprehension and the tribesmen are asking where Nadir Shah's ammunition ami money come, from.