nadir khan makes his formal entry into the capital, and calls an assembly of chiefs and notables to thank them for their support. the spokesmen of the tribes beg him to accept the crown. he at first declines on the ground of ill-health, but as the whole assembly continues to insist, he at length consents. most of the provinces within a short time declare their acceptance of his rule. habibullah escapes from kabul into the district of his own tribesmen, the koh-i-danis, in the north. he is unable, however, to rally a force to his support, and is in a few days captured along with a number of his chief officials and brought to kabul. on the demand of the hazaras and other tribes hostile to habibullah, all 18 are executed on november 2. the new amir's first steps are to form a ministry and enroll troops for a regular army. on october 19 he sends a message to europe through a newspaper correspondent that he hopes to lead afghanistan along the path of progress and to make it an independent and civilized state, to reopen the schools, and to build up roads, railways, and industries. he is anxious to create bonds of friendship with all nations, especially with france, which he regards with particular affection. at the end of november he issues a proclamation summing up his policy in ten points which include the maintenance of islamic law as the basis of administration, the total prohibition of alcoholic liquor, the establishment of a military school and an arsenal for manufacturing modern arms, the continuance of king amanullah's relations with foreign powers, a progressive educational policy, and the continuance of the old council of state.