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Letter from Mr. Griffin to Ameer
Abdul Rahman Khan
Credits: Azmaray Khan
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...After compliments
"His Excellency the Viceroy and Governor-General in Council has learnt with
pleasure that Your Highness has proceeded toward Kabul, in accordance with the
invitation of the British Government. Therefore, in consideration of the
friendly sentiments by which Your Highness is animated, and of the advantage to
be derived by the Sirdars and people from the establishment of a settled
government under Your Highness's authority, the British Government recognises
Your Highness as Amir of Kabul.
I am further empowered, on the part of the Viceroy and Governor-General of
India, to inform Your Highness that the British Government has no desire to
interfere in the internal Government of the territories in the possession of
Your Highness, and has no wish that an English Resident should be stationed
anywhere within those territories. For the convenience of ordinary friendly
intercourse, such as is maintained between two adjoining States, it may be
advisable that a Mahommedan Agent of the British Government should reside, by
agreement, at Kabul.
Your Highness has requested that the views and intentions of the British
Government with regard to the position of the ruler at Kabul in relation to
Foreign Powers should be placed on record for Your Highness's information. The
Viceroy and Governor-General in Council authorises me to declare to you that
since the British Government admits no right of interference by Foreign Powers
within Afghanistan, and since both Russia and Persia are pledged to abstain from
all interference with the affairs of Afghanistan, it is plain that Your Highness
can have no political relations with any Foreign Power except with the British
Government. If any Foreign Power should attempt to interfere in Afghanistan, and
if such interference should lead to unprovoked aggression on the dominions of
Your Highness, in that event the British Government would be prepared to aid
you, to such extent and in such manner as may appear to the British Government
necessary, in repelling it; provided that Your Highness follows unreservedly the
advice of the British Government in regard to your external relations."
- This letter, generally referred to as the letter
from the Foreign Secretary, dated July 20, 1880, was sealed by Griffin and
delivered by him during the Zimma meeting.
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