Habibullah has been formally proclaimed Ameer of Afghanistan with the
full consent of all around him. It appears that Abdurrahman Khan before his death had care- fully " removed " all chieftains who were likely to be trouble- some, and on the last day but one of his life invested Habibullah in the presence of the whole Court with the insignia of sovereignty, which his brothers in particular were ordered to acknowledge. The soldiery are obedient, and, of course, until a section of them have been purchased order will reign in Kabul. The new Ameer has announced his intention of maintaining his father's -policy, especially as regards his friendship with the British, and has addressed a cordial letter to the Viceroy of India repeating all his father's promises. Lord Curzon has made a suitable reply, King Edward has written an honorific letter, and it is believed that for the 'present there will be no dis- order in Afghanistan. It has, however, been necessary for the Ameer to appoint special guards to protect Europeans to promise reductions of taxation, and to raise the pay of his army. As the late Ameer's laster of the Works, Sir Salter Fyne, has pointed out, no movement is possible while the snows are on the mountains, and before they have melted the most formidable enemies of Habibullah, who are natur- ally his stepmother and half-brothers, may have been rendered powerless for mischief. Anglo-Indians can hardly conceive of a quiet 'Afghanistan; but still Abdurrahman ruled the Afghans in peace, and so did Doit Mahbenmed.
