‘A collection of treaties, engagements and sanads relating to India and neighbouring countries’ [‎79] (96/578)

PEES] A—NO. XVII—1853.
79
{Translation.)
I HE Sadr Azim to Syed Mahomed Khan, Ruler of Herat, —January 26th, 1853.
The Persian ministers, from tlie time when they began to give aid and assistance
to you, my son, had no intention of taking possession or assuming sovereignty
over Herat; nay, they were desirous that it should remain in a state of independ
ence, and be preserved from the attacks and invasions of foreigners. They had
no views of acquisition on the Herat soil, or of raising contributions from Herat
or the people of Herat, and these circumstances were made known to the Mufti
(lately Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. from the Governor of Herat to the Shah) when he was here.
Now, when their intentions have, thank God, been accomplished, it is necessary
that I should inform you, my son, of the Articles and engagements which the
(Persian) ministers have imposed upon themselves. They are to the following
effect:—
That the Persian ministers never had, nor will ever have, any idea of taking
possession, assuming the sovereignty or governing either Herat or the Herat
territory, or its people, and will not interfere in any manner whatsoever in the
internal affairs of Herat, so that they may be independent in their country and
their own affairs, without the interference of any one belonging either to this gov
ernment or to the Afghans of Cabool and Candahar, or other foreigners. They
will not in any manner agree that the Khootbeh (prayer in the Shah’s name) should
be recited-in the name of His Majesty (the Shah). With regard to the coinage
also, solely to secure your independence, my son, they will never consent that the
current coin should be struck in the name of His Majesty (the Shah). But if, as
in the times of the late Kamran and the late Yar Mahomed Khan, you should
desire to send a sum of money as an offering, and that money should be struck
in His Majesty’s name, the Persian ministers will not object to it and it will be
received. If at any time it should be necessary that the people of Herat should
give assistance to Persia in order to punish the Toorkomans, or when there is a
disturbance or rebellion in the Persian territory, they may of their own free-will,
as was formerly done in the time of the late Yar Mahomed Khan, send assistance
in men, but not as a permanent force. Yes, that which His Majesty the Shah
considers imperative on him, on account of his services rendered by the late Zuheer-
ood-Dowlah is, that if any foreign troops, Afghan or other, should invade Herat,
the ministers of this ever-enduring State shall despatch troops to the aid of Heratees,
to join the Herat troops outside of the town of Herat, and when the foreign troops
have been expelled from the Herat soil, to return immediately to the Persian
territory. No doubt after you have become acquainted with the real sentiments
of the (Persian) ministers, you will act in conformity with them.
{Translation.)
Firman A Persian word meaning a royal order or decree issued by a sovereign, used notably in the Ottoman Empire (sometimes written ‘phirmaund’). of the Shah to Syed Mahomed Khan, Ruler of Herat,—J anuary 29th,
1853.
Let the high in rank, etc., Zuheer-ood-Dowlah, Syed Mahomed Khan, feel
assured of our royal favour, and know that the engagement given by the ministers
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