TNT History Mini-Series: Afghan King Amanullah's Visit to the West (1928)/Part IV/FINAL

//Ed. note: After five days in Ankara, Amanullah returned
to Istanbul in late May and proceeded from there to Iran  
- although TNT couldn't find any information about how 
he traveled to Tehran, and from there to Kabul, where he 
arrived on 1 July 1928.

In any event, during his long trip to the West, the natives
got restless and he was forced to abdicate in January 
1929, seeking refuge in British India.  He mounted a 
comeback in the March-May period that same year but
fell short, fleeing Afghanistan again. Amanullah died in 
Zurich in 1960 and his body was brought back to 
Afghanistan for burial in Jalalabad.//

This map was included in the Turkish translation of 
the German article: "Afghanistan's Unfavorable 
Geography", showing the Russian threat from the 
north and the British presence in India and 
Mesopotamia.

King Amanullah only opened up after setting foot on Turkish soil,
where he repeatedly said he felt like he was among a nation of brothers.
He noted that "the Turkish nation is one eye and the Afghan nation is
the other eye."  He embraced Mustafa Kemal Paşa and proposed this
toast during the official dinner: "To my dear and esteemed brother!
Both of our nations have the same goals and the same duties."  In turn,
Mustafa Kemal Paşa talked about "brotherly reciprocal support".

With this display of deep and sincere friendship between the two
leaders it should come as no surprise that, in light of the harmony of
their interests, the previously signed friendship pact between them
was renewed and strengthened, and a few days later Iran joined in to
a new entente with them. 

This had the effect of a bomb coming out of the clear blue sky for
London and Moscow, which had both made offers of "permanent"
reciprocal security agreements to the Afghan King.  This was the
political focal point of the King's trip.  Later, though, it was learned
that in Paris in February King Amanullah assigned all of Afghanistan's
mining operating and exporting rights to the Americans, making that
the economic focal point.  Perhaps economic activities are always
most important.  This matter was handled with dexterity by an
American commission agent named Donald ?Strakan?. 

//Ed. note: after Amanullah was gone from Afghanistan, 
in the early 1930s the Afghan government granted oil 
and mining exploration rights to American Inland Oil 
Company for 25 years but the company backed out of
the deal.//

               King Amanullah with Atatürk in Ankara.

In summary, Amanullah was courted by the English and Russians

but, in the end, he threw his arms around his Turkish brother, 

preferring to lean on his intimate neighbors.  In this regard, to the

extent that it can, Turkey will provide teachers, professors and 

engineers for Afghanistan's development.   Nevertheless, Amanullah

still needs the support of Europe's industry.  But this may mean that

he will seek only small portion of this support from Russia and 

England.  Because the Kabul government will do everything it can

to avoid re-igniting English-Russian competition.  Afghanistan's

best hopes for the future lie with Europe's other countries like Germany

and Italy, along with the American concession.

There are some existing economic relations between Afghanistan and

Germany.  For a few years now, Brix, the head of the urban engineering

construction academy, has been busy building 'Darul Aman', the new

Afghan capital city, where valuable trading houses are being brought

to fruition.  Engineers, scientists and doctors have come to serve in

Afghanistan, providing great possibilities for development.  In this

way, these ties established by King Amanullah will ensure the increase

and strengthening of relations (with Germany). 

 

                          Darul Aman's Tajbeg Palace

//END of PART IV/FINAL//