THE CONFERENCE OPENED.

Colonist, Volume LXI, Issue 151035, 29 July 1919, Page 5

THE CONFERENCE OPENED.

ADDRESS OF THE AFGHAN

LEADER

OBSTINATE AND UNREASONABLE

ATTITUDE,

(Renter's Telegrams.)

(Received July 28, 9.30 p.m.) Simla, July 27. At the Peace Conference, after Sir Hamilton Grant's address, AH Ahmad, president' of the Afghan delegation, urged forbearance on both sides. He denied that the Afghans first sought peace. He admitted the British superiority in war material, man-power, and gun-power, but pointed out that the Germans held a similar position in the European war. The Afghans were not a sleepy and ignorant people. They possessed fresh aspirations like other nations that participated in the European war. He declared that Afghanistan was a safe barrier against Bolshevism in India. If the war were renewed and the British won India would be flooded with Bolshevism,! which could only be checked by a just and honourable peace. The conference is sitting in camera. The Afghans are proving obstinate and unreasonable, and there are indications that the conference will soon be dissolved.