1 Dost Muhammad
2 leans to Russia,
3 Captain Burnes
4 advises the adoption of
5 more vigourous pio-
6 ceedings on the part of
7 the Government of
8 India in regard to the
9 Afghan policy.
10 British negotiations
11 with the Amir,
12 Lord Auckland's
13 opinion as to the con-
14 duct and pretensions
15 of the Aniir,
16 His Lordship recalls
17 Captain Burnes fiom
18 Kabul, April, 1833,
19 486 HISTORY OF TITE PANJAB.
20 the characteristic confidence which he had invariably placed in the faith and
21 friendship of the British nation, at once assented to the proposition of
22 the Governor-General. While these peaceful negotiations were going on,
23 Captain Burnes was startled by the sudden appearance, on December
24 19th, 1837, of a Russian envoy, Captain Vincovich, an Aide-de-Camp of
25 the Russian Consul-General at Orenburgh, with a letter from Count Simonich,
26 the Russian ambassador at the Court of Teheran. No definite line of
27 action had been Jaid down in this letter; but the expression, ‘Trust
28 him with your secrets, and ‘I request you will look upon him as my-
29 self, and take his words as if from me, had a wide significance, and might
30 mean a great deal.
31 Captain Burnes, who enjoyed the entire confidence of the Governor-
32 General, and was held to be an authority on the affairs of Central Asia,
33 addressed His Lordship with great urgency. The imminent danger of the
34 negotiations that had been now advanced up to the very borders of India
35 was pointed out, and it was urged that much more vigorous proceedings were
36 necessary to counteract Russian intrigue in this quarter than had yet been
37 exhibited. The jealousy and alarm of Russia which had been diffused in India
38 had equally alarmed the British ministers in Downing Street, and the English
39 diplomatists at the Court of Teheran were also excited. Lord Auckland wrote
40 to Dost Muhammad Khan, requiring him to abstain from all foreign alliances
41 and to dismiss from his Court his Russian visitors. But that crafty chief,
42 impatient for glory and triumph, had ideas of his own importance based on
43 the fact that his friendship was courted. The question of the Sikh invasion
44 of Jallélébad and Kabul had already been warmly discussed in the coun-
45 cils of Lahore, and, had friendly assurances been given to the Kandahdr
46 brothers and a hint that the Sikhs were at liberty to indulge their desire
47 for a march to Kabul, Dost Muhammad would have been able to form a
48 correct estimate of his own insignificance. As it was, however, he threw
49 himself into the arms of Russia, in order to intimidate the English, cause the
50 surrender of Peshdwar, and secure a guarantee against Ranjit Singh.
51 The Government of India now clearly saw that Dost Muhammad Khan,
52 encouraged chiefly by a promise of assistance from a foreign Power whose
53 interests were in direct conflict with their own, persisted, as respects his
54 misunderstanding with the Sikhs, in using the most unreasonable preten-
55 tions, such as the Governor-General could not, consistently with justice and
56 his regard for the friendship of the Mahardja, be the channel of submitting
57 to the consideration of His Highness; that he avowed schemes of aggran-
58 dizement and ambition injurious to the security and peace of the frontiers
59 of India; and that he now openly threatened, in furtherance of those
60 schemes, to call in whatever foreign aid he could command. To crown all,
61 it was clear that the Amir gave his undisguised support to the Persian de-
62 signs in Afghanistdn, of the unfriendly and injurious character of which, as
63 concerned the British power in India, he was well aware. The Government
64 of India was compelled, by these considerations, to recall Captain Burnes from
65 Kébul, which he quitted on the 26th April 1838. The Russian pleni- -
66 potentiary was now admitted into the Darbdr at Kébul and caressed by the
67 Amir. Heat once engaged to furnish Dost Muhammad with an abundant sup-
68 ply of money, and even to propitiate Ranjit Singh.
69 Captain Burnes arrived at Lahore, on his way to Simla, to meet the
70 Governor-General, in July 1888, and was splendidly received by the Maha-
71 rajé. The whole question of foreign intrigues in the affairs of Afghanistén
72 was discussed at Simla, and it was considered evident that no further inter-
73 Sri SatQtrayagne Si dre) PSERSASPY by the Britinh Genesis pinalebert a good