IOR/L/PS/7/47 ff.1031-3038

Description

Scope and content : Despatch from the Government of India, Foreign Department (Secret/Frontier) to the Secretary of State for India, dated Simla 30 July 1886, forwarding papers relating to the progress of the Afghan Boundary Commission.Enclosure No. 3, a telegram from Sir West Ridgeway to H. M. Durand, dated Kham-i-ab 17 July 1886, reports that Kazi Sad-ud-din has received a letter from the Amir, 'regarding proposal that he should be obliged to give up canal heads, and decision was that it would be better to withdraw Commission. Representative is therefore forbidden to make any concessions ... Amir has written confidentially that officers are not to be allowed to move about country till receipt of further orders...' Enclosure No. 5, letter from the Viceroy Lord Dufferin to Amir Abdur Rahman, dated 21 July 1886, cautions the Amir about proceedings of Russian officers attached to the Boundary Commission: '...Colonel Ridgeway has ascertained that the Russian officers have formed the project of sowing dissension between England and Afghanistan by working upon the minds of Your Highness's officials and persuading them of the advantages of an alliance with their Government against England. They are endeavouring to misninterpret the sayings and doings of the British Commission, and they hope to make your officials believe that the Russian claim to the district of Kham-i-ab will be withdrawn if Your Highness will consent to abandon the policy by which you have hitherto been guided. These intrigues on the part of subordinate Russian officers are no subject of surprise to me. As the British Government has no desire whatever that Your Highness should quarrel with Russia, I should very gladly see her withdraw her claim to the Kham-i-ab district in order to arrive at a friendly settlement ... In conclusion I would request Your Highness to give your officials such orders as will endure their informing Colonel Ridgeway of any secret overtures which the Russians may endeavour to make to them. On the 30th October 1885 Your Highness wrote to me that your officials would not have anything to do with the Russian Commission except through the medium of, and in consultation with, Colonel Ridgeway. I must look to Your Highness to see that this promise is carefully observed. Possibly it has been observed, but unless Your Highness's orders are very explicit upon the point much mischief may ensue.'