‘A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries’ [‎222] (239/578)

222
AFGHANISTAN.
threatening to Russia. Russia, on her part, recognised Afghanistan as
outside her sphere of influence. The final article stipulated the consent
of tlie Amir to the terms of the Convention as a condition precedent to its
enforcement of the arrangements. Such consent was, however, never
obtained.
Tn the summer of 1909 the Amir suggested the appointment of a
•Joint Commission for the settlement of various differences between the
frontier subjects of the two Governments. A settlement, by way of
cancellation and set-off on tribal lines, of the great majority of out
standing cases was effected in October. Most of the cases settled related
to the Tvurram border, the amount due, on balance, being found to he
Rs. 2,685 in favour of the Afghans. This sum was paid by the Govern
ment of India.
The outbreak of the Great War, and particularly the entry of Turkey
into the conflict, placed the Amir in a difficult position. No efforts were
spared by the Central Powers to bring Afghanistan into the War. In
spite of the formation of a preventive military cordon in East Persia,
a German-Turkish mission succeeded in reaching Kabul in October
1915. The Amir summoned a meeting of representatives from all parts
of the country, delivered a strong speech in favour of peace and friend
ship with the British, and succeeded in keeping his country neutral
throughout the Great War. As a token of appreciation of his attitude
his subsidy was increased in 1916 by rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. two lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees a year, making
the total rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. twenty and a half lakhs One lakh is equal to one hundred thousand rupees .
In February 1919 Amir Habibulla, feeling that the time had come
when he might claim the reward of steadfastness throughout the war,
and vindicate his policy to his people, wrote to the Viceroy, demanding
written recognition by the Peace Conference of Afghanistan’s absolute
liberty, freedom of action, and perpetual independence ”.
On the night of the 19th/20th Febru ary 1919 Amir Habibulla was
muidered at his shooting camp at Qala-i-gush in the Raghman Valiev.
His brother Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Nasrulla was at Jalalabad at the time. He imme
diately pioclaimed himself Amir, Inayatulla, the heir apparent, who
was also in Jalalabad, making no attempt to establish his own claim.
Tn Kabul Sardar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Amanulla, the 2T year old son of Habibulla by the
T lya Hazrat, took possession of the citadel. Conciliating the army by
promises of increased pay, and disarming opposition by the boldness
ot his act, he ordered the arrest of Nasrulla on the charge of having
murdered Habibulla, and on the 28th February was proclaimed King
of Afghanistan in the presence of all civil and military officials in Kabul.
Amanulla s first act on taking over the reins of Government was to
proclaim the independence of Afghanistan both in internal and in exter
nal affairs. For this purpose he desptached special messengers to
Russia, Turkey, Bokhara and Khiva. On the 3rd March he wrote to