England before heading to Moscow via France, Germany
and Poland. His tonsillectomy was performed in Berlin
in mid-April 1928. //
London
While in England, King Amanullah visited the arms factories at
Birmingham and Sheffield, the Hendon airplane station, Woolwich
arsenal, Sandhurst tank detachment, the giant drydocks in London and
Southampton and the scouts at Windsor. He also stopped by the
Greenwich Observatory, received a doctor's cap from Oxford and
visited the Liverpool thread factory and the cotton exchange. The
King even entered a coal mine and viewed rowing races and other
competitions of great importance to the English.
Upon his departure from England, King Amanullah told reporters
that his visit had "allowed both sides to know one another better."
From his standpoint this was true, but his trip should be considered as
only a minor success for the English side, which got little in return for
all the trouble it went to. Before issuing these metaphorical farewell
remarks, the King could scarcely have imagined that he would achieve
such a remarkable triumph against this world power.
Russia's statesmen kept track of King Amanullah's London visit with
uncertainty and demonstrable nervousness. Nevertheless, once he was
in Russia, their maneuvers were unsuccessful in separating the King
from his settled composure and affability. The Russians pulled out
all the stops to impress the visitor but, in the end, it was all for naught.
They gave the King a special dinner at the Red Army House and
created an exhibition of writings and posters depicting Afganistan's
struggle for independence since 1839. Special maps were prepared for
him, showing English military preparations on Afghanistan's border
with British India, despite all the previous wars with England.
The Russians even made a film about Afghanistan's independence
war, with the idea of having it shown in Kabul. During the mutual
toasts made at the dinner, the Russians repeatedly emphasized "mutual
benefits" and "the common enemy", in a ploy to draw their Afghan
neighbor closer to Soviet policy. Nevertheless, in the same way that
he had rebuffed the seductive advances of the English politicians,
King Amanullah was not impressed by Moscow's blandishments and
he categorically rejected Chicherin's (Georgy Chicherin, People's
Commissar for Foreign Affairs) for a military alliance.
If this one small disagreement is overlooked, then the Afghan King's
performance in Moscow should be considered as a masterful display
of political restraint. Yet the word "King" was nowhere to be found
in the local press coverage of Amanullah's visit. The Russian people
were told that Amanullah was not a ruler but, rather, a progressive
guide who had freed his nation from captivity. He was also referred
to as "padishah comrade", thereby skillfully skirting the dangerous
impression that Amanullah was royalty.
Amanullah is a very well-bred person but also very adept at adapting
himself to the common people. During the official march-past of the
Red Army he wore a khaki uniform, rather than his full-dress outfit
and when he sat in the Czar's box he did so wearing a normal suit of
clothes. His interactions with Kalinin (Mikhail Kalinin, Politburo
Member) were more warm and friendly (than with Chicerin?) but
the latter's efforts to have the King sign a trade agreement were
unsuccessful.
As the King said goodbye to Russia at Sivastopol, the representative
of the Foreign Affairs Commissar once again emphasized common
cause, saying to the King "in any war that might erupt in the future,
the Russian will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Turks and
Afghans!" In response, Amanullah merely thanked him for the
hospitality and bid him farewell.
//END of PART III//
in the local press coverage of Amanullah's visit. The Russian people
were told that Amanullah was not a ruler but, rather, a progressive
guide who had freed his nation from captivity. He was also referred
to as "padishah comrade", thereby skillfully skirting the dangerous
impression that Amanullah was royalty.
Amanullah is a very well-bred person but also very adept at adapting
himself to the common people. During the official march-past of the
Red Army he wore a khaki uniform, rather than his full-dress outfit
and when he sat in the Czar's box he did so wearing a normal suit of
clothes. His interactions with Kalinin (Mikhail Kalinin, Politburo
Member) were more warm and friendly (than with Chicerin?) but
the latter's efforts to have the King sign a trade agreement were
unsuccessful.
As the King said goodbye to Russia at Sivastopol, the representative
of the Foreign Affairs Commissar once again emphasized common
cause, saying to the King "in any war that might erupt in the future,
the Russian will stand shoulder to shoulder with the Turks and
Afghans!" In response, Amanullah merely thanked him for the
hospitality and bid him farewell.
//END of PART III//
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