IOR/L/PS/7/47 ff.397-418

Description

Scope and content : Despatch from the Government of India, Foreign Department (Secret/Frontier), dated Simla 18 June 1886, to the Secretary of State for India, forwarding papers relating to expulsion from Herat of Abdul Razak, newswriter of the Tehran Legation.</pEnclosure no. 3, telegram from Sir West Ridgeway, dated 9 January 1886, reports the expulsion of Abdul Razak, 'on account of having written mischievous letters regarding Kazi Sad-ud-din [Governor of Herat] which were intercepted by Afghan officials; no. 7, from the Viceroy to the Amir, dated 11 March 1886, objecting to the expulsion and stating that, 'I must warn Your Highness that I cannot regard with indifference the interception by Afghan officials of letters written to the British authorities by recognised news-agenrs'; no. 9, letter from the Amir to the Viceroy, dated 23 March 1886, in which he upbraids the Government of India for appointing a newswriter without his knowledge or sanction; no. 12, from the Viceroy to the Amir, dated 29 April 1886, points out that Abdul Razzak's appointment was communicated to the Amir's officials by the British Agent at Meshed; no. 15, from the Amir to the Viceroy, dated 14 May 1886, upholds the expulsion, which he claims was justified by the circumstances; no. 17, from the Viceroy to the Amir, dated 3 June 1886, closes the matter: 'I can only say in reply that I regret the view taken by Your Highness, as set forth in your letter, and that I must maintain the opinion I have already expressed with reference to the conduct of Your Highness's officials in this matter. As, however, Your Highness does not appear to perceive the impropriety of opening the letters of a recognised news-writer, it is useless to discuss the matter any further.'