IOR/L/PS/7/47 ff.135-140

Description

Scope and content : Despatch from the Government of India Foreign Department (Frontier) to the Secretary, Political and Secret Department, India Office, dated Simla 14 May 1886, forwarding for the attention of the Secretary of State for India, Kandahar newsletter dated 21 April 1886, written by Mirza Muhammad Taki, British Newswriter at Kandahar.Reports rumours current in the city, that it is 'said that the Russians have refused to agree to the boundary demarcated by their own and the British Commission, and have demolished the pillars and other boundary marks that were erected on the frontier, and that they will shortly occupy Herat, and the British will take possession of Kandahar...They delight in these rumours. I do not understand whence these stories arise, and how they spread, but I think that the people, being oppressed by and afraid of their officials, long for these events to happen and think they will tend to their liberty...The Amir has sent to the Governor of Kandahar a copy of a letter received by him from Her Gracious Majesty the Queen-Empress, in reply to his letter thanking Her Majesty for conferring on him the title of Knight Grand Commander of the Star of India. The Governor read this letter in darbar. I think that the Amir has probably heard of the rumours stated in the paragraph above, and has therefore sent a copy of this letter to efface from the minds of the people the evil thoughts they entertain.'