The Fortnightly Review: No. CCCCLXIII, New Series [‎610r] (110/239)

THE MISSION TO CABUL.
79
reaching the Afghan frontier, the line was to be carried via
Candahar, the route thence to Cabul following an easy gradient.
As events were to prove in Cabul itself at the time of the Con
ference the Amir Habib Ullah made no attempt to discuss any
of these questions, and in this respect, it may be added that it
was with the greatest difficulty that he was induced to enter into
any discussion at all upon the questions concerning the relations
of India and Afghanistan. In India it had been considered that
there might be a difficulty in the arrangement of the terms
which were to be secured from the Amir, but that ultimately,
and after protracted negotiations, our demands would be realised,
lo this end Sir Louis Dane, as chief of the Mission, was pro
vided with a treaty which may be described as representing the
irreducible minimum of demands by the acceptance of which it
was hoped to establish a more enduring settlement of the present
difficulties. Few people, with the possible exception of the
Viceroy of India, were prepared for the unfortunate set back
which the Mission received.
Without venturing into specific details it is sufficient to define
the general scope of this treaty.
The clauses provided for : —
1 . The extension of the Peshawar railway to Dakka.
2 . Eestriction of the importation of arms.
3. Reorganisation of the army.
4. Extension of the Indian telegraph system to Cabul.
5. The subsidy.
Certain subsidiary points of discussion, embracing the super
vision of the frontier tribes and the relaxation of the more repres
sive restrictions against Indian trade, were included.
It will be seen that there is considerable divergence between
this treaty and the one actually signed at Cabul on March 21st,
1905, which represents the result of the four months which Sir
Louis Lane passed in the Afghan capital. The Lane Treaty is
as follows, when translated : —
He is God. Extolled be His perfection.
His Majesty Siraj-ul-millat-wa-ud-din, Amir Habib Ullah Khan, Inde
pendent King of the State of Afghanistan and its Dependencies, on the
one part, and the Honourable Mr. Louis William Dane, C.S.I., Foreign
Secietary of the Mighty Government of India and the Representative of
the Exalted British Government, on the other part.
His said Majesty doth hereby agree to this, that in the principles and
in the matters of subsidiary importance of the Treaty regarding internal
and external affairs, and of the engagements which His Highness my
late father, that is, Zia-ul-millat-wa-ud-din, who has found mercy, may
God enlighten his tomb ! Concluded and acted upon with the Exalted
British Government, I also have acted, am acting, and will act upon
the same agreement and comjiact, and 1 will not contravene them in any
dealings or in any promise.