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AMANULLAH

opinions. It was vigorously denied in diplomatic circles
that the British Minister took any part in domestic
politics in Afghanistan, but it may perhaps be reasoned
that for the swift settlement of affairs with as little
trouble as possible, Sir Francis did to some extent
facilitate the exit of Amanullah unimpeded and without
personal danger.

He was known to have some influence both on
Amanullah and on Bacha Sachao, the man who alone
could control the unruly mob in Kabul. Unless Sir
Francis exercised this influence, it is difficult to under-
stand why the fanatical Afghan mob, rabid and danger-
ous against those with even the slightest connection
with the King, did not answer the appeals of the mullahs
to wreak the last vengeance on Amanullah.

It was a " mullahs' revolution " to a large extent.
Amanullah had been the greatest oppressor they had
experienced, possibly in all Afghan history. The
mullahs had stirred up the people not only in Kabul
but in the countryside. They played on the strong but
dormant religious feelings of the mob to such an extent
that on that night they were willing to go to the last
extremity to avenge their wrongs. Eye-witnesses state
that on their lips were religious cries, not complaints
against the burdens of taxation.

It is therefore highly possible that, purely with the
interests of the country at heart, Sir Francis4t interfered "
to the extent of persuading Bacha Sachao to give Aman-
ullah safe exit, perhaps without letting his unruly
supporters into the secret. At any rate, as will be shown
later, when Bacha Sachao eventually came to his
horrible death in Kabul, some of the allegations made
against him by his former followers were to the effect
that he had connived at the escape both of Amanullah
and Inayatullah,

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