The Fortnightly Review: No. CCCCLXIII, New Series [‎611r] (112/239)

THE MISSION TO CABUL.
81
advice of the British Government in regard to your external relations.
I have the honour to inform your Highness that this assurance remains
in force, and that it is applicable with regard to any territory which may
come into your possession in consequence of the agreement which you
have made with me to-day in the matter of the Oxus frontier. It is the
desire of the British Government that such portion of the Northern
frontier of Afghanistan as has not yet been marked out should now be
clearly defined. When this has been done, the whole of your Highness’s
frontier towards the side of Russia will be equally free from doubt and
equally secure.
It will be seen from tHe perusal of these treaties that the latest
agreement establishes no more than the simple renewal of en
gagements which have their origin in the pledges given by Lord
Itipon as Viceroy of India to the Amir Abdur Rahman on his
recognition by the Afghan 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. at Cabul in 1880. As a matter
of fact, this renewal on both sides of the engagements entered
into between the Amir Abdur Rahman and the Indian Govern
ment, represents the limit to which the Amir Habib Ullah would
permit himself to go.
After the preliminary receptions, the moment had arrived for
the first actual conference, and the subject of a new treaty was
broached by the chief of the Indian Mission.
“ What was good enough for my father,” in effect said Habib
Ullah by way of reply, ‘‘is good enough for me,” adding that
he wished for no treaty, the agreement with Abdur Rahman
amply satisfying his views. By way of explanation it was
pointed out to the Amir that the treaties which had been arranged
with Abdur Rahman constituted a private modus vivendi, and
that the Government of India was prepared with a new treaty
to be regarded as made between itself and the Amir of Afghan
istan. Sir Louis Dane then proceeded to read over to the Amir
a copy of the suggested treaty when the Amir interrupted wfith
the remark, anent the restrictions against the importation of
arms, that Great Britain professed friendship, and yet refused
to supply the just wants of Afghanistan. At this clause, together
with that concerning the extension of the railway to Dakka, the
Amir appeared concerned, and from this point negotiations in
connection with the British proposals practically broke down,
Sir Louis Dane failing to elicit from the Amir or from his ad
visers anything more than the assurance that the ruler of Afghan
istan did not wish for a special treaty, and that what was wanted he
could prepare for himself. At a later date the Mission was sup
plied with a copy of the agreement which the Amir w^as anxious
to see ratified, but from the moment when he raised his objec
tions to the opening clauses of the treaty until Sir Louis Dane
was in a position to give the assurance that the Imperial Govern
ment had acceded to his wishes, six wrecks passed before the
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