Proposed Withdrawal of British Troops from Morar and Gwalior [‎104v] (26/32)

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expediency, can conceal the fact that in
1853 Lord Dalhousie said that Scindias
Fort should be restored to him, no matter
what the consequence might be ; that m
1860 Lord Canning promised it to him, and
that the promise was subsequently con
firmed by Lord Elgin.
I attach little importance to the trans
action of 1864. Scindia in his own graphic
way has repeatedly said to me I am a
“ child of the British Government. Its
“ wish is to me a command. I owe my
“ position, past, present and future, to
“ you; the slightest expression of your
“ opinion is my law.”
I know perfectly well the precise value
that is to be attached to a consent given by
such a Chief to such an arrangement as
was effected in 1864. I believe the con
sent was not a willing one—the fact
remains that a promise was made on
the solemn word of three successive
Viceroys—to this day that promise is un
fulfilled—and as long as that word remains
broken Gwalior is a spot upon our shield.
I will say no more.—Knowing as I do
the great inconvenience and embarrassment
in our relations with Scindia which are
involved in the present condition of affairs,
for which the proposed measure alone seems
to offer a prospect of relief, I advocate its
adoption.
I admit that it is a reversal of what
was intended, but what was not fully ex
plained to Scindia, in 1864. But I can
never admit a policy to be vacillating which
is but a recurrence to a state of things that
till lately existed, and which (disregarding
apprehensions of vague and uncertain dan
gers) will enable us to perform an act
that is in accordance with every principle
of honor, generosity and justice.
I trust then that bolder counsels will
prevail, and that Her Majesty’s Govern-