There is, between Iraq and Afghanistan yet another link besides the change of rulership, by death, from experienced to exceedingly youthful hand Francis Humphrys, now British Ambassador at Baghdad, was the first British Mu Kabul under the Treaty Rawalpindi, His right-hand man, and Counsellor at Kabul (now Sir) Richard who is now the Minister to the Afghan Court. Sir Francis will remember that difficult crisis in 1928 when his new Legation subject to the fire of the rebels against King Amanullah and the R.A.F, aeroplanes so wonderful and smoothly evacuated the w men and children at Christm time. It is to be hoped that Sir Richard will not have to fw similar excitements but it, mu: be remembered that, in Afghan stan, dynastic changes are seldom—unaccompanied by. bloodshed. In the fanatical uprising consequent on the clash of rival claimants the few foreign representatives in Kabul are likely to be in some danger. Confronted himself by the prob-Toms of the beginning of a new reign at Baghdad, Sir Francis will be sympathetically _pondering over the course of events in his old haunts, where he made his first big jump up the official ladder.
He was the eldest of 21 sons of Painda. Khan. For several [years they fought for the suprefmacy—a preoccupation which Tost them much of their territory to the Sikhas of the Punjab. In 1826 "Dost Mahommed became "Amirul-Muamin" or lord of the faithful—in short Amir—of Afghanistan and thus really started the present dynasty. treaty alliance with the British after the Sikh Wars had given the Punjab to British India, Dost Mahommed ruled Afghanistap firmly until hi peaceful death in 1867. His son, Sher Ah, received which extended to the cluded Herat. "Sher into conflict with the British and on his death, his son Yakub made the Treaty of Gandamak, by. which it was understood that a British representative should be establish-led at Kabul. Sir Louis Cavagn: was chosen by Queen" Victoria for the post. He and his escort were murdered at Kabul and the British forces under General (afterwards Earl) Roberts exacted the penalty. The Amir Yakub was sent to Lahore as a prisoner. He and his family Femained there as pensioners of the Government of India and some of them still draw that Allowance. During the Great War an attempt was made to exploit some of the younger members of the family but a quick transfer from Lahore wa made and the effort petered out.
It is curious that King Nadir Shah's end should come on th eve of Armistice Day for, hor ever much credit is due to him for his able conduct of affairs as occupant of the Barakzai throne, his own rise to minence was in part the outcome of unsuccessful attempts to involve Afghanistan in the Great War. His death has been in accord with a fierce tradition of violence. And, also curious; Afghanistan's own rise to the dignity.of a kingdom was in the name of the great Nadir Shah—a compound of marked ability and terrible cruelty—who, after saving Persia from an Afghan invasion, assumed the. royal state for himself and extended his dominions into the 'Moghul domain by a spectacular Anvasion of India, and the looting of Delhi, whence Shabjehan's peacock throne was taken back' to Teheran.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.