CHAPTER IV. FROM THE UMBALLA CONFERENCE TO THE SIMLA CONFERENCE. THERE is here an interval of three years and a-half in the Afghan Blue-book, during which some important events happened. In February 1872, Lord Mayo was assassinated, and Lord Northbrook was appointed to be Viceroy. Before Lord Mayo's death, the Persians and the Afghans, who had long been quarrelling over the border country of Seistan, agreed to refer their quarrel to the British Government, and in the autumn of 1872 an award was made by General Goldsmid. He awarded to each party a portion of the disputed territory. Both were dissatisfied. Shere Ali clearly appears to have considered that, as the British Government were his allies, they were bound to decide wholly in his favour, and there was for some time considerable doubt whether he would obey the award. As late as May 5, 1873, he declared that he would not (vide A., p. 111). Another dangerous controversy affecting the boundaries of Afghanistan was settled during this period. The Russians had been extending their power, direct and indirect, over the Turkoman people to the north of Afghanistan, including Khokand and the Khanate of Bokhara. The districts of Wakhan and Badakshan lie to the north of Cabul, and border on the tribes subject to Russian influence. There was substantial doubt and dispute as to the sovereignty over these and adjacent districts. Shere Ali claimed them as part of the Afghan dominions, but his claim was disputed. The Russian officers took a view adverse to Shere Ali, who was thus brought into closer political contact with Russia. Indeed, he was very much disturbed by a letter received from General Kaufmann, the Russian Governor of Turkestan, in the month of July 1872 (vide C., pp. 197, 198). This dispute was the subject of much negotiation between the British and the Russian Governments, and in the month of January, 1873, the former induced the latter to recognise Shere Ali's title over the whole of this disputed territory. It seemed to Lord Northbrook advisable that upon these points some communication, more detailed than by letter, should take place between the British and Cabul Governments, and accordingly, in the month of March, 1873, he proposed an interview between the Ameer and the Commissioner of Peshawur. This plan was altered at Shere Ali's wish, and it was agreed that he should depute his Prime Minister, Noor Mahomed, to wait upon the Viceroy at Simla. A singularly erroneous account of the origin of the Simla conference has been given both by the Government of India (see A., pp. 162, 163), and by Lord Cranbrook (see A., p. 262), who have both stated that it was Shere Ali who took the initiative, being actuated by fears of Russian invasion, and being desirous of obtaining assistance against it. The same statement was, expressly or by implication, made by Sir L. Pelly to Noor Mahomed at the Peshawur conference, and was denied by that Minister (see A., pp. 201, 203, 204). These errors will be observed on in their places. The account here given will be found in exact accord with the papers given in F. A., pp. 3-9. Lord Northbrook's proposals and objects are distinct. On the Ameer's side, our Vakeel, Atta Mahomed Khan, reported a great deal of talk, showing extreme irritation at the Seistan award, which the Ameer chose to represent as a conscious injustice done to him in order to avoid disputes (F. A., p. 6). In connection with that he said, apparently by way of menace or taunt to us, that the Russians would advance and 1 See inf. pp. 231–233. demand more territory, which for the sake of peace we should agree to their taking. But with all this ebullition, he only proposed to send his Minister to confer on the two points mentioned, and other border affairs' which he did not specify. His answer (F. A., pp. 7, 8), sent through our Vakeel, is as follows:: 6 As the interests of this Government, which God has given me, and those of the British Government, are virtually in all conditions identical, the meeting of a British officer deputed by his Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General of India with me will afford me much gratification. As regards the Seistan question, full information about the confirmation of the award of Major-General Sir F. Goldsmid has reached me, and I have gleaned information about the ancient boundary of Northern Afghanistan from the murrasillas of his Excellency the Viceroy, dated June 24, 1870, May 1, 1872, and September 9, 1872, and the murrasilla of Von Kaufmann, Russian Governor-General at Tashkend. As for the recently defined boundary of Northern Afghanistan, whatever views the British Government may have entertained about it, great anxiety weighs on me day and night, and I am not in any moment relieved from it, that the juxtaposition of boundaries with Russia will involve difficulty in making provision for the security of the borders in the interests of both Governments. Under these circumstances, I consider it advisable that one of my Agents should first wait on his Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General of India to ascertain the real views of the British Government in both of these two matters, and other major or minor border affairs, satisfactorily, and to represent my views about the interests of both Governments carefully and in detail, in order that, on receipt of full information about the views of the British Government, these matters may be satisfactorily settled after deep consideration, and the most careful deliberation on their probable consequences. However, if the British Government prefer to depute an English officer to me, notwithstanding their cognisance of my views on the considerations above mentioned, and my anxious precautionary reflections, or consider it desirable to do so after granting a meeting to my Agent, hearing the representations he will make on my part, and acquainting him with the views of the British Government, I have no objections to either course. Information should be kindly sent to me as to which of these views has been approved of by the British Government in order that I may make arrangements accordingly. This letter has been submitted after perusal by the Ameer. In a subsequent letter, dated May 5, 1873 (A., pp. 110, 111), our Vakeel puts together several detached remarks made by Shere Ali, the effect of which is that, owing to the Seistan award and the conduct of the Russians, the security of Afghanistan will be imperilled unless the British Government quickly shows its 'cordiality, or is kind enough to sympathise,' upon which the Vakeel makes the following significant remarks (A., p. 111) :— As I have no authority to give any answer to the Ameer in such most important matters, I could not but remain silent. His Highness, in concurrence with the opinion of the Cabul authorities, desires that the British Government should commence forthwith to organise the Afghan troops, to send from time to time large amounts of money with great number of guns and magazine stores in order that his Highness may steadily be able in a few years to satisfactorily strengthen the Afghan kingdom. The Simla conference took place in July, 1873. The notes of it will be found in A., pp. 111-115. The subject of alarm at Russian progress was mooted on July 12 by Lord Northbrook, and it was discussed in further detail on July 30. In the mean time the following telegrams passed between India and England (A., p. 108):- Telegram from Viceroy to Secretary of State. Simla dated July 24, 1873. Ameer of Cabul alarmed at Russian progress, dissatisfied with general assurance, and anxious to know definitely how far he may rely on our help if invaded. I propose assuring him that if he unreservedly accepts and acts on our advice in all external relations we will help him with money, arms, and troops, if necessary, to expel unprovoked invasion. We to be the judge of the necessity. Answer by telegraph quickly. Telegram from Secretary of State to the Viceroy. Cabinet thinks you should inform Ameer that we do not at all share his alarm, and consider there is no cause for it; but you may assure him we shall maintain our settled policy in favour of Afghanistan, if he abides by our advice in external affairs. The Viceroy understood the Secretary of State's telegram to authorise all the assurances which he thought it desirable to give to Shere Ali, and which were in effect our settled policy, and a repetition of the assurances given by Lord Mayo, only more pointed at disturbances from the quarter of Russia. On July 30, after some preliminary points had been disposed of, the discussion turned on the possibility of aggression by Russia. The ultimate assurance given to Noor Mahomed is set forth in the following passage of the notes (A., p. 114): His Excellency the Viceroy replied that the British Government did not share the Ameer's apprehensions, but that, as already mentioned in the previous conversation, it would be the duty of the Ameer, in case of any actual or threatened aggression, to refer the question to the British Government, who would endeavour by negotiation and by every means in their power to settle the matter and avert hostilities. It was not intended, by insisting on such previous reference to the British Government, to restrict or interfere with the power of the Ameer as an independent ruler to take such steps as might be necessary to repel any aggression on his territories; but such reference was a preliminary and essential condition of the British Government assisting him. In such event should these endeavours of the British Government to bring about an amicable settlement prove fruitless, the British Government are prepared to assure the Ameer that they will afford him assistance in the shape of arms and money, and will also in case of necessity aid him with troops. The British Government holds itself perfectly free to decide as to the occasion when such assistance should be rendered, and also as to its nature and extent; moreover, the assistance will be conditional upon the Ameer himself |