Kalat Affairs [‎344r] (95/172)

^o. aatcd Jacobabad, the 26th August 1870.
hrom Colonel, R. Piiayile, Political Superintendent^ Upper Sind Fiontier.
To—The Political Agent A mid-ranking political representative (equivalent to a Consul) from the diplomatic corps of the Government of India or one of its subordinate provincial governments, in charge of a Political Agency. at Khelat.
I delated three days before writing my letter No. 1200, dated yesterday,
in the hope of receiving some explanation from you on the subject of the abrupt
withdrawal of the Agent for Khelat affairs from my Court; this morning, how-
evdr, I have had the honor to receive vour letter No. 61, dated the 19th instant,
informing me that on the 16th idem you learn from the Khan that he had tem
porarily removed Vakeel Naih Mahomed Khan from your service, and conse
quently that he had withdrawn the Agent for Khelat, in attendance on me, to
supply his place.
\
2. If I understand you aright, the Khan made these arrangements with
out previously consulting you in any way, notwithstanding that they materially
affected the only two .British Officers with wdiom he has direct dealings.
If the case be' as I have expressed it, you must yourself have been taken by
surprise, and it is no wonder that such a mode of transacting business with
His Highness, fhads to complications, and gives him false ideas as to his re
lative position to the Political Superintendent on the Frontier, and the Agent
at his Court, and vice versa. Personal arrangements of the kind under notice
never used to he carried out except by letter to the Officer concerned, or con
sultation with him as the case might be, and I shall take a convenient oppor
tunity of asking His Highness not again to withdraw his Agent from my Court
without consulting me dn the subject.
3. Your letter under reply cancels the postscript to my letter No. 1200,
of yesterday’s date, and sucK portions of the 2nd paragraph as refer to my not
having received any communication from you at all on the subject.
4. I regret, however, being compelled to say that your bare announce
ment of the Khan’s arrangements, in which you disclaim all share, does not
palliate the action of the Khelat government and yourself, as referred to in
paragraphs 3 and 4, because you kt^ew of them on the 16th instant, in time to
have stopped the despatch of the the order; but so far from deeming such to be
necessary, you appear to think that the Khan was quite right in first removing
your own Agent, then mine, without\he least reference to the wishes or con
venience of either of us ! !—and although you must have known what inconve
nience those arrangements would occasion me, you tacitly acquiesed in them,
and did not vindicate your own right to ha^e been consulted beforehand!
5. In conclusion, I beg you will hear rk mind that the usual rules of un
reserved, frank, and courteous communication between Governments on all
matters affecting the interests of each, can netmr he infringed without sooner
or later leading to serious consequences ; indeed^ Khelat correspondence for the
last month or so shows that no time must he lo^t in paying attention to
most important duty, as well as many others.
this
om the Political Superintendent, Upper Sind Frontier, to His JlMness the Khan of Khelat,—
dated Jacobahad, the llth Avgust 1870\
After compliments, —I am sorry to hear from ^Captain Harrison that
>ur Highness cannot come down into Cutcl.ee this season, because I hoped
have had the pleasure of seeing you and discussing maify matters.
I think you are quite right not to come, if you think }Wr doing so would
volve any risk to the peace of your II ig mess conn ry. ^
I have sent to Captain Harrison to come to Jacobabad\upon matters of
importance, and as soon as I am able, I will write to your Holiness upon the
atters alluded to above.