Coll 5/69 ‘Afghanistan: Visit of the A.O.C-in-Chief, India to Kabul in 1939’ [‎5r] (9/48)

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I replied that I would do 'ahat was possibla afa ^^gf^dg
techmoa 1 training, but must emphasise our difficulties
at the present moment in taking on so 1 argw_ a jfrLtc hg r ^
students*
In further discussion, It transpired that the
Air Force now depends directly from the King and is no
longer administered by the War Office. On hearing this,
i spoke strongly to Ihsan on the need for higher training,
both technical and administrative, for his sernior officers.
I pointed out that, if he was contemplatiing an air force
of nine squadrons, the leaders would have to understand
very clearly how to use this force. I then recommended
that at least three sefnior officers a year should go to
gngland to study at the Central Flying School, the School
of Amy Co-operation, on H.Q. Staffs and at a technical
unit, i also stressed the need for a separate budget
for the Air Force.
*his dicussion lasted till 13.ID hours, was
very frank and friendly, but pointed clearly to the desire
of the Afghan for further free training and cheap issues
of material of a more modern nature than they had
hitherto received.
At 1600 hours, I arrived at the Foreien Office*
accompanied by the Councillor to the Legation. We were
received by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister.
After a very short exchange of polite phrases, the Prime
Minister commoiced a long speech in Persian, which v/as
subsequently translated into Snglish by the Foreign
Minister, ^he gist of the speech was that, for a number
of years, the Afghan Government had beai following a
consistent policy of f ri end ship with Great Britain. ±‘he
Prime Minister and his Minister in London had spoken to a
ENCLOSURE IN INDIA
FOREIGN SECRETARY’S
No- DATE
166 7 -- 9
■ LETTER
received
1 7-10- 1939
/number of