AMANULLAH

into British India* The same babu who had refused
me, now let me through, signed my passport, and
smiled.

" It is dangerous to be round here at night," he said.
" The Sahib must remember the difference between
Kabul time and British time. . . .'*

We climbed up the steep road to Landi Kotal and
drove straight to Peshawar Club for beer. The next
morning the Afghan Legations all over the world were
highly indignant to read that I had predicted the
downfall of Amanullah and the collapse of the whole
ambitious scheme to Westernise the East. My friend
of the Pravda, I learnt, had not sent a word from
Kabul. It had been well worth the trouble.

During the next few weeks I was busy reading the
stilted and slightly contemptuous denials issued by the
Afghan Legations, in India, London, and all over
Europe. In speeches and in communiques the Ministers
issued sarcastic and patronising statements ridiculing
the suggestion that Amanullah's reforms meant trouble
in Afghanistan. They made interesting reading, and
received wide publicity. But I was prepared to wait
for a few months.

Actually, I had to wait less than two months. The
hint given me by Sir Francis Humphrys, that it would
be to everybody's advantage that I should leave Kabul,
was well grounded.

But for seven weeks more, no news came out of
Afghanistan. The road to Kabul remained clear of
trouble. More visitors went to the capital. The British
Legation maintained its reputation for hospitality,
The visits of the King to talk with Sir Francis grew
more frequent and more secretive. The rash programme
was still being carried out, with funds shrinking to an
even more alarming margin. Men were starving, and

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