IOR/L/PS/7/47 ff.859-863

Description

Scope and content : Despatch from the Government of India, Foreign Department (Frontier) to the Secretary, Political and Secret Department, India Office, dated 14 July 1886, forwarding, for the information of the Secretary of State for India, Kabul Newsletter No. 96M, dated 25 June 1886, written by Lieutenant-Colonel Ataulla Khan, British Agent at Kabul.A brief report, mainly relating to the conclusion of the Afghan Boundary Commission. Ataulla Khan writes that he will keep in touch with Colonel Ridgeway regarding 'the temper of the Afghans' and 'the feelings of other Afghans towards the Boundary Commission,' but suggests that his newsletters should be sent Ridgeway via India, since 'it is dangerous to send information like that contained in my news-letters by the Turkistan dâk.' Also, 'I do not think the coming back of the officers of the Boundary Commission to India via Kabul after the completion of the delimitation of the frontier, will affect their safety. I sincerely hope and trust that Colonel Ridgeway willl meet with a good reception. But I do not think that the Amir, who is a proud and haughty man, will pay a return visit. The people at large are in favour of the British and are its well-wishers. They will look upon him as they do the moon announcing the occurrence of the 'Id' festival...'