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GOVERNMENT ACCORDING to the Constitution of Afghanistan, the King appoints the Prime Minister, who then forms a Cabinet. This last, on the approval of the monarch, is made responsible for the various governmental departments. The National Assembly, composed of 173 elected members, has power to check the activities of the various Ministries, to approve or disapprove the Government's budget, and to ratify all bills presented to it with or without amendments, or to reject them. When the National Assembly is not in session any Government Bill becomes temporarily effective if and when ratified by the King. However, it remains subject to confirmation by Parliament at its next session. All Bills have to pass the two Houses. Judicial power rests with three Islamic courts—the Primary, Appeals and Supreme. To examine offences committed by civil servants in the day-to-day execution of government duties there are special courts. The following Ministries are entrusted Premier Nehru replies to the Afghan Premier's welcome address. with particular government duties: National Defence, Foreign Affairs, Interior, Justice, Finance, Education, Health, Communications, Commerce, Public Works, Agriculture, Mines and Industries, Press and Information, Tribal Affairs and Planning. In Afghanistan there are 15 provinces in all, the head of each being appointed by the Prime Minister, and approved by the King. Various minor aspects of government work in each province are looked after by directors appointed at Kabul by the Ministry concerned, e.g. a provincial Director of Education is appointed by the Ministry of Education and carries on his duties under the immediate supervision of the Governor of the province, and forwards progress reports to the Ministry of Education. The vigilant Afghan Government have undertaken carefully calculated measures to better the country and the prosperity of the people, and today the nation enjoys many new facilities. FOREIGN RELATIONS Alongside the national measures for the welfare of the population, the Afghan Government have defined a very clear-cut policy for themselves as regards relations with other governments and nations. It is one of mutual respect, equality, non-aggression and non-intervention in the internal affairs of other States. Neutrality is a traditional policy of the Afghans. They love freedom of judgment and action in their own matters, and would like to see such freedom universally regarded as the natural and legal right of all peoples and nations of the world. Before the outbreak of World War I, Afghanistan participated in the Disarmament Conference, and in 1935, joined the League of Nations and other international conferences of the time, and remained faithful to their peaceful prin-