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Report by the Viceroy, Lord Northbrook, giving his View on the Conduct of Affairs in Baroda [9] (9/14)
The record is made up of 1 file (7 folios). It was created in 9 Apr 1875. It was written in English. The original is part of the British Library: India Office The department of the British Government to which the Government of India reported between 1858 and 1947. The successor to the Court of Directors. Records and Private Papers Documents collected in a private capacity. .
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with Baroda affairs, and whose character
for independence and ability was well
known in the Service.
We considered that it was desirable, if
possible, to obtain the assistance of Natives
of high rank and position on the Commis
sion. Sir Dinkur Eao was summoned to
Calcutta, and consented to serve. I wrote
to request Maharaja Scindia, Maharaja
Holkar, and the Maharaja of Jeypore to
join the Commission. Maharaja Ilolkar,
while giving his complete adherence to the
course taken by the Government, excused
himself from serving, but the other two
Princes consented to serve.
In making public the course taken
by the Government in deposing the
Gaekwar, we determined to announce
that it was our intention, whatever the
results of the inquiry might be, to re
establish a Native administration at
Baroda. We were aware that some distrust
prevailed of the motives of the British
Government in dealing with the case, and
that, notwithstanding the solemn an
nouncements that had been made from time
to time that there was no desire to extend
the British possessions in India, all our
proceedings with respect to Native States
were watched with a jealousy which indi,
cated that those declarations were hardly
yet accepted as expressing the real inten
tions of the British Government. It was
therefore our view that, while it was es
sential to deal strongly with the attempt to
poison the British Resident, it was equally
essential to announce that, in doing so, we
had no intention of annexing the territory
of Baroda,
It will be obvious that there were
several alternatives to the course which
we determined to adopt in each of
the particulars which I have recounted.
Those alternatives were considered by
us. None of them appeared to us to be
preferable. The matter was surrounded
About this item
- Content
The confidential report gives a brief explanation of the State of Baroda and its rulership, before setting out the transactions relating to the State of Baroda from 18 March 1873, when Colonel Phayre was appointed as British Resident, to 9 April 1875.
The report outlines the maladministration brought to the notice of Government by Colonel Phayre, with reference to specific cases of complaint, before detailing the action that the Government of India took to address this including the appointing of a Commission to investigate the condition of the State in the winter of 1873 which led to the British Government's decision that intervention was necessary.
The report goes on to outline the treaties, agreements and rights by which the British Government possessed the right to intervene in the internal affairs of Baroda state and which led to advice being given to the Gaekwar to address the matters raised in the Commission's report and a period of 18 months being granted for him to implement the necessary reforms.
It also addresses the matter of Colonel Phayre, whose conduct had been brought into question, but who at the time was permitted to remain in his post as his representations of the misgovernment had been justified, but who had misunderstood the instructions from his government and who subsequently acted contrary to them.
The report also looks at the failures of the Government of Bombay From c. 1668-1858, the East India Company’s administration in the city of Bombay [Mumbai] and western India. From 1858-1947, a subdivision of the British Raj. It was responsible for British relations with the Gulf and Red Sea regions. to report matters to the Government of India, the decision to remove Colonel Phayre from his position as resident and the subsequent attempted poisoning of him. It then addresses Sir Lewis Pelly's appointment as temporary Resident and the critical state of affairs he was greeted with on arriving in Baroda, including the Gaekwar's lack of substantial progress in implementing the reforms the British Government had instructed him to make and the investigations into the attempted poisoning which revealed in December 1874 that it had been undertaken at the instruction of the Gaekwar.
The report further details the considerations given as to how to handle the matter of the attempted poisoning of a British Resident, the need for an enquiry in order to provide the opportunity for cross-examination of witnesses and defence and the need for him to be removed as ruler in order for such an enquiry to take place. The individuals chosen to serve on this commission are described in detail, along with the importance of emphasising the intention to restore Baroda to native rule once the enquiry was complete and other complications such as the resignation of the Minister for Baroda which left Sir Lewis Pelly to conduct the whole administration of affairs for the state including undertaking reforms which had been promised by the Gaekwar.
The report concludes with Lord Northbrook's thoughts on the course of action the British Government has taken and his hopes that the Princes of India will be able to recognise the justice and moderation that have been shown through the process and not be alarmed by what has taken place.
- Extent and format
- 1 file (7 folios)
- Physical characteristics
Foliation: The file has printed pagination consisting of a number in brackets at the top centre of each side of the folio, with the exception of page 1 which has been given a pencil number enclosed in a circle in the top right hand corner of the page.
- Written in
- English in Latin script View the complete information for this record
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- Reference
- Mss Eur F126/93
- Title
- Report by the Viceroy, Lord Northbrook, giving his View on the Conduct of Affairs in Baroda
- Pages
- 1:14
- Author
- East India Company, the Board of Control, the India Office, or other British Government Department
- Usage terms
- Open Government Licence