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EX-KING OF AFGHANISTAN

Visitors to dinner, seeing the snapshots and concealing
yawns over the endless descriptions common to travellers,
uttered the usual polite noises of surprise and mild
horror at the world wanderers' exposing themselves to so
great a danger.

Amanullah changed even that.

Very soon the board was removed, and another, larger
and more noticeable, took its place. It read, in less
direct and less menacing language :

" TRAVELLERS TO AFGHANISTAN ARE ADVISED THAT
ON NO ACCOUNT MUST THEY CROSS THIS BARRIER
UNLESS THEIR VISAS ARE IN ORDER."

The anti-climax was complete. Afghanistan was open
to the world. The veil of mystery was torn away. The
glamour was gone. No doubt very soon the travel
agencies would be advertising a glimpse of the sacred
tombs of the Amirs for the benefit of world travellers,
and a few well-arranged hold-ups on the rocky road from
British India into the heart of Afghanistan.

There came a Proclamation from the King stating in
bald terms that permission to cross the Frontier could be
gained merely by the securing of a visa. Travellers were
encouraged, in theory at any rate, and the new pro-
grammes for the rebuilding of the main roads received
due prominence.

" The Gates of Afghanistan are open," said the officials
in the various capitals of the world. "The King has
secured peace in his land, and is inviting foreigners to
see for themselves the progress that has already been
made in the amenities of his State."

The mullahs realised that their exclusive and privi-
leged reign over the destinies of their people was doomed.
Already they began subterranean campaigns of protest.

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