Proposed Withdrawal of British Troops from Morar and Gwalior [‎98v] (14/32)

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has been somewhat tarnished in the
transaction.” Again, “ our character for
good faith which, in the case of the fort,
is not altogether unassailable.”
I believe that the above view is quite
untenable, and I cannot see what justifi
cation there is for these expressions. . That
the Government of India, as administered
now, should impugn the good faith of the
same Government as administered but a
very few years ago, seems to me to be
politically most embarrassing. Consider
ing the extreme importance justly attach
ing to questions of good faith, I cannot
imagine a point on wdiich the Govern
ment of India ought to be more cautious,
than that of impugning the good faith of
itself, or the good faith of its immediate
predecessors.
21. What are the facts as proved.hy
the papers in this case ? A declaration
was made to Sindiah in 1861 that the
fort wmuld be, at some time, given up.
In 1864 he was given to understand
that the Government of India acknow r -
ledged the force of that declaration, but
that a certain alternative would he pre
ferred. He then evinced a complete
understanding of all the bearings of the
case, and among them of the importance
of British troops to his own safety. Of his
own free will he then agreed to the reten
tion of the fort by the British, and accepted
• the proffered alternative. In pursuance of
that he addressed a letter in the most
explicit terms to the British Government.
Under these circumstances, I say that the
British Government is not bound by good
faith to restore the fort; and that if it
see fit to retain that fort, its good faith is
unimpeachable.
22. On the grounds set forth in this
minute I deprecate the opening of any
negotiations with Sindiah on this subject.
I. would not indicate any intention of
withdrawing from the fort or canton
ment, and I would leave things as
they are for the present. If the °Com-
mander-in-Chief shall hereafter show some
additional force to be indispensable, such
proposal could be considered. And I
furtherdeprecate, under any circumstances
the announcement of any proposals so soon
as December next, in the manner suggested
m the present despatch; as this seems to
me to evince haste in a matter demanding
grave deliberation. 6
t
R. TEMPLE.