According to a telegram from Peshawca. dated Decem- ber 29th,
the Mission to Kabul has been instructed to ask for permission to construct railways and telegraphs, and upon this the Amir has consulted his people, who, as we expected last week, strongly object to the proposal. The Amir, on his side, has put forward a most ' unexpected request,—namely, the cession of a strip of land, we presume through Beluchistan, to a port on the coast. That, he says, will suit him better than a subsidy. We suppose this could be granted if we gave part of the subsidy to the Beluch chiefs, who really want money ; but the request at first sight looks as odd as would a similar pro- position from Switzerland.. We suppose its explanation is that the Amir is guarding his independence, and thinks he could get a revenue by taxing imports. His demand will require much thinking over, and will be hotly opposed in Bombay, where fortunes are made out of Afghan trade,
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