MAKING HISTORY

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1929, Page 13

MAKING HISTORY

LEAVE INDIA HURRIEDLY. RULER TOO ENLIGHTENED. Scenes in Bombay recently marked poignantly the changes that a few months have made in an historical country of Central Asia. Four exiled exmonarchs of Afghanistan arrived at the sea-gate of India. Ex-King Amanullah looked a different man from the proud monarch who, 18 months ago, passed, with his queen, through Bombay, on the.occasion of the royal visit to Europe. That tour is credited with having confirmed the then reigning pair in the enforcement of reforms which have led to tho undoing of their monarchy. When the special train conveying the ey-King Amanullah of Afghanistan and his Queen Souriya arrived at Bombay from the north-west frontier it was already several hours overdue.

With the royal exiles were two other ex-monarchs—Amannllah’s brother Inayatullah and his wife,; who held the throne for a few precarious days after King Amanullah abdicated. First of the unfortunate royal family to be spotted was Inayatullah, who embraced members of the Afghan Consulate, kissing them all. He was wearing a shirt loose at the neck, khaki trousers, knee-boots and fez cap.

Inayatullah stepped out of the train looking well and cheerful. A move was then .made toward. Amanullali’s carriage. He was obviously touched by the warmth and loyalty of the welcome. Amanullah' was dressed in a similar costume to that of his brother-in-law.

European officials were present at the station, and were presented to both the ex-kings, who bowed and smiled.

Amanullah seemed to have aged perceptibly, and looked ■worried. When he glanced round the station and saw only a few people, ho looked relieved, and it was obvious he had dreaded a demonstration.

Several hundreds gathered in the station precincts. As the two ex-kings reached the exit cheers rent the air, and together they drove to the Taj Mahal Hotel, police holding the crowd at bay.

After the two husbands had left the station, botli the ex-queens alighted from the train, thickly veiled. Queen Souriya was wearing silk stockings and smart Parisian shoes. Not even reporters or photographers were given admittance to the station platform. Ex-King Amanullah' drove off at high speed in a private Rolls Royce amid shouts of “Allah-ho-Akbar” (God is great) from a crowd of Mohammedans. The ex-King says he has nd intention of returning to Afghanistan; but if recalled by a unanimous vote of the people he would consider it. He ascribes his downfall to the hostility of the mullahs (priests), who found money which formerly went to them being diverted for the benefit of the population. He surrendered the throne to prevent bloodshed. Abdul Hadi Khan, former Minister of Commerce of Afghanistan, said that when the Amanullah party goes to Italy the otheiti will either return to Afghanistan or stay in British' India. He added: “The majority of the nation does want an enlightened • of the type of King Amanullah.”