"مجلد I مذكرات بخصوص بلاد فارس والمنطقة الحدودية الشمالية الغربية. ١٩٠٥." [و‎‎٦‎٢] (٣١٠/١٢٨)

for an interview. The Amir merely replied that
the question of external relations and of the
subsidy could not be discussed until after
the strengthening of the original Treaty,
and that verbal explanations from Mr. Dane
would not make much difference. Mr. Dane
replied informally on the 17th January,
pointing out that, whatever the form of the
Treaty, the control of foreign communications
was a vital point which must be entered
in it. If, however, His Highness wished to
defer discussion of this point, Mr. Dane said
he would not press it at present. He then
informed the Amir clearly of the intentions
of Government, regarding the arrears of
subsidy and the import of arms. His High
ness’s reply had not been received at the end
of January.
On the 4th January at 11 A. m., Mr.
Dobbs and Captain Brooke took the presents
of the Government of India to the Amir.
The Amir displayed great interest in the
cinematograph and the motor car, and
was very gracious. He said that he would
have been very pleased with one or two small
things, and the real present he was anxious for
was the settlement of the matters now under
discussion. He also expressed his pleasure at
the reception accorded in India to his son,
Sardar Inayatulla Khan.
Mr. Dane reports that most of the articles
on sale in the Kabul bazaar are of Russian
origin, not only in the case of peculiarly
Russian products, but of other commodities,
in which the comparative proximity of India
should give British merchandise an over
whelming advantage. He considers that
Russian trade in all probability receives some
form of preferential treatment in Afghanistan.
On the 27th December, the Amir held a
Durbar, in which he observed that the
Russo-Japanese war had disturbed the whole
world, and was a serious menace to all
States, however remote. Hence it was
necessary for him to take measures for the
defence of Afghanistan, and it was these
measures which he was now discussing with a
friendly Power. The Shahghasi also spoke
in support of these views. In taking counsel
with the members of the Select Committee, His
Highness is reported to have said that the
advancement of Afghanistan was barred by
the lack of command of the sea, and in
consequence he had to enter into alliance
with a neighbouring friendly Power, and
hence he proposed to maintain, if possible, the
friendship of the British Government, though
he did not like the terms they had proposed.
One or two unfriendly acts on the part
of the Afghan authorities have been reported
from Kabul: the owner of a tea shop in