'Précis of correspondence, &c., relating to affairs in Central Asia, Biluchistan, Persia, &c. 1875-77. With appendices.' [‎144r] (292/562)

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as to leave the permanence of the arrangement entirely an open question, without however at
all indicating a preconceived intention that it shall be only temporary. Your eventual decision
on this point must be influenced by the course of events and the reports which you may receive
from the Resident, whom it might be convenient to charge with the delivery to the Ameer of
the Queen s letter and presents which, pending a decision on the question which forms the
subject of this despatch, appear to have been made over to Sayyid Yakoob Khan. 5 '’
125. Visit of Syud Yakoob Khan to Europe, February
1877 • After the conclusion of the Imperial Assemblage the Svnd left
Bombay for Europe on the 28th February, accompanied by Captain ^Molloy,
and armed with letters of introduction to the Consul-General in Egypt
and the British Minister at Constantinople. Captain Molloy was allowed
a salary of Rupees Indian silver coin also widely used in the Persian Gulf. 1,000 per mensem exclusive of travelling expenses,
and as a special case and out of consideration to the Envoy personally the
latter’s expenses were paid as far as Suez. At Constantinople the Syud
remained for some days awaiting an interview with the Sultan. During his
stay a member of the Russian Embassy called upon him and endeavoured to
dissuade him from continuing his journey to England. The Envoy answered that
the object of his visit was to obtain facilities from the British Government for
the conclusion of a treaty with China. His visitor thereupon urged him to go
to St. Petersburg, where he would he warmly received, and obtain every assist
ance in the prosecution of his object.
In reply to a telegram from the Secretary of State, the Government of
India advised that the Yarkund Envoy should be treated in England as a guest
of the British Government. There was no precedent for this course, but it was
considered that its adoption would have a good effect. He left Constantinople
for London on the 9th May. At a final interview with the Sultan the latter
dwelt much upon the great importance of all the Mahomedan States of Asia
uniting to prevent Russia from carrying out her ambitious designs against
Turkey and Central Asia, and of looking to England as their only friend for
help and advice.
[Secret, February 1877, Nos. 1-7; January 1877, Nos. 83-90, 96-98, 137-138.]
[Secret, August 1877, Nos. 99-101.]
126. The position of the Ameer of Kashgar with regard
to the Chinese. Sir B. Robertson’s Report.— At this point it will
he convenient to leave for a time the history of the British relations with
Kashgar and of Syud Yakoob’s proceedings in England and to notice, as briefly
as possible, the progress of the operations on the north-west frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. of China
and the relations of that Government with Kashgar.
In July 1875 Sir B. Robertson, British Consul at Canton, submitted a
report to Lord Derby showing that the Chinese Government were con
templating active measures on this frontier. He quoted a memorial from
Tso-Tsung-Tang, dated October 1874, which asserted that after having secured
their communications the Chinese troops had advanced to Gutchen (Kuchen)
and Barkul, that a depdt had been established at Khamil (Kami), a garrison
placed at Oroumtsi (Urumchi), and the co-operation of the Mongol Chiefs
secured. The rapid advance which the Chinese forces had recently made, and
the evident determination of the Chinese Government to recover lost ground,
led Sir B. Robertson to predict an early collision with the troops of Ameer
Yakooh Beg. He wrote—
“ In the Service Reports I have had the honor to transmit, mention has, from time to
time, been made of the assembling of a Chinese force on the north-west frontier Region of British India bordering Afghanistan. . It is.only of
late, however, that this movement has assumed much importance, at least sufficient to indicate
what is now made apparent, an intention to re-assert the Imperial authority over such parts of
the Province of Kansu, and the whole of Yarkund, which for several years past has been lost