Enclosures of Letter to Her Majesty's Secretary of State for India, No.213, dated 27 November 1874: Nos. 3 to 31 of Abstract of Contents, from Foreign Department, Fort William [‎19v] (38/102)

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Paragraph 8 of Commission Report,
group 1, grievances of Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , &c.
Paragraph 12 of Commission Report
ami marginal note
No. 343-1168, dated Baroda, 20th October 1874.
From—Resident at Baroda,
To—Secretary to 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. .
Tn the last paragraph of my letter No. 333-1148, dated 17th instant, I
promised to submit to Government certain specitic proposals regarding what
1 consider to be the most important class of cases now pending. In order,
however, that Government may be in possession of
Du ootober a i874 0 ' 1S( 7 ' 111 1!Hh that has passed, I append copy of my yad to the
Residency An office of the East India Company and, later, of the British Raj, established in the provinces and regions considered part of, or under the influence of, British India. yad, No. 1982, dated 20th Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). of last evening No. 1965, together with
their reply and my rejoinder as per margin.
2. I am respectfully of opinion that the complexion which this important
class of cases has now assumed renders it imperative in the interests of the
peace and tranquillity of the country that some immediate action should be
taken by Government and authoritative advice tendered to the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). .
3. The main points to which I would first invite attention are —
l.«?/.—That the Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. , Silledars, Mankurees, Sindees, Arabs, &c., adverted
to in the Commission Report, are at the present,
time in circumstances of absolute want, and quite
independent of the settlement of the cases, require
Appendix a ., case i. Schedule ii., Ap- • advances to be made to them at once in order to
pendix o.. resident s schedule ii . preserve themselves and fam lies from starvation.
27idly. —That, as stated in paragraph 9 of my letter No. 333-1148, dated
17th instant, I have been in constant negotiation with Mr. Dadabhai Nowrojee
regarding the settlement of certain of these cases, but that up to the present
time not only has not a single case been settled by the Maharaja as agreed
upon between his Minister and myself, but, as in tke case of Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. Kudu
instead of paying him his arrears, a criminal case was gut up against him
for the purpose, as I believe, of getting rid of him altogether, and of intimidating
the remainder.
4. With regard to the first of these points. Government will observe from
the copy of my yad No. 1982 to the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). of this day's date (annexed) that I
have proposed to meet the immediate emergency; that His Highness the
Gaekw r ar should at once and without any further delay advance to all Sirdars Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. ,
Silledars, &c., and their adherents, who have been deprived of their pay for the
last 3J years and upwards, from four to six months' pay according to circum
stances. This measure I believe to be absolutely necessary to avert actual
outbreak, and I would therefore earnestly recommend to Government that
authoritative advice to this effect be at once tendered by Government. Unless
this is done I think it my duty clearly to state that I cannot be responsible for
any consequences that may ensue.
5. Next with regard to the enquiry into and settlement of these cases,
I would respectfully invite attention to the following points :—
1^.—That every single individual whose case is under jurisdiction is
deeply involved in debt to Baroda Bankers and others, which debts have been
caused by a variety of circumstances, but chiefly by the arbitrary and capricious
manner in which their pay and allowances have from time to time been reduced
or stopped altogether by the present Maharaja and his predecessors.
^ndly.—That any settlement which may be made must provide some means
for the liquidation of these debts in proportion to the responsibilities—
(a) Of the Sirdar Leader of a tribe or a polity; also refers to a military rank or title given to a commander of an army or division. or Silledar himself.
(h) Of the head of the Earoda State.
(c) Of the Banker who has probably been willing enough to advance
money at usurious interest.
Zrdly. —That if loss of service and consequent reduction in the number of
these hereditary servants is, under present circumstances, to be the basis of
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