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 [‎20r] (39/102)

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settlement of any of these cases, utter ruin must be the result to the individual
concerned and the whole of his family and following.
6. It will thus be observed that this last point constitutes the main diffi
culty in the settlement of these cases. 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). have already intimated to
the Commission their intention to reduce the number of this class ostensibly
for the purposes of economy, but practically speaking no economy either has
been or will be effected, because, as a general rule, new favorites are usually
substituted for old and hereditary families.
7. Were it not for the accumulation of debt and the proposed reduction,
the settlement of these cases might be effected without the least difficulty,
except for the personal animosity and revengeful feelings entertained towards the
class by His Highness the Gaekwar. I have myself during the last seven weeks
prepared what I believe to be fair settlements of several of the most important
of these cases for the purpose of negotiation with His Highness' Minister.
8. The principles which have guided me in these negotiations are shown
in the statement annexed* (marked A), which I drew up and showed to Mr.
Dadabhai as forming the basis upon which I should advise Government to act
in any cases that we might not be able to arrange amicably.
9. I have also prepared notes of about 20 of these cases, and have given
them to Mr. Dadabhai at his special request, in order to assist him in procuring
a settlement of them from the Maharaja, which in several instances he has
professed to do, without however any actual results except verbal promises
which hitherto have not been carried out.
10. It will thus be seen that I have from the commencement cordially
given to Mr. Dadabhai every assistance in my power, in fact I may confidently
say that, but for my assistance, he would have been from his uttermexperience
in the details of administration utterly unable to have grasped the general
principles upon which alone any Statesmanlike settlement of these difficult
cases could be effected.
11. Bearing in mind the serious complexion that affairs have now assumed
in consequence of the non-settlement of this class of cases, I deem it my duty
to express to Government my conviction that no satisfactory settlement of
them, including debts and arrears, can possibly be attained, until I am formally
empowered to arbitrate, and adjudicate in them, subject to the approval of
Government, 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). having already stated all they had to urge in each
before the Commission. In order, however, to enable me to do this effectually,
I must be invested with powers to call upon 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). to produce from 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. , the Bankers, and State records such evidence as I may require, and until
that is done I believe that the Maharaja will merely go on temporizing until a
general outbreak takes place.
No. 1965, dated 19th October 1874'.
From—Resident at Baroda,
To—His Highness the Gaekwar.
Referring to personal communications which passed betwen Your Highness'
Minister, Mr. Dadabhai Nowrojee, and myself on the 14th, 16th, and 17th instant,
relative to the 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. Chandra Rao Kudu and certain 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., associated with him, said to amount in all to about 500 men, also to the
further conference which took place this morning on the same subject between
Your Highness, Mr. Dadabhai, and myself, I should feel obliged by your inform
ing me as soon as possible whether the said 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. and Silledars have dispersed
and preceded to their respective homes or not.
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