The Sun.
London, England, 1838-12-22 00:00:00

WAR IN INDIA.

(From the Agra Uhhbar Extra of Oct. 11.)
" DECLARATION ON THE PART OF THE RIGHT
HON. THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL OF INDIA.

" Simla, October I, 1838.
" The Right Honourable the Governor-General of India
having, with the concurrence of the Supreme Council, di-
rected the assemblage of a British force for service across the
Indus, his Lordship deems it proper to publish the following
exposition of the reasons which have led to this important
measure.

" It is a matter of notoriety that the treaties entered into
by the British Government in the year 1832, with the Ameers
of Sinde, the Nawab of Bahawulpore, and Maha Raja Runjeet
Singh, had for their object, by opening the navigation of the
Indus, to facilitate the extension of commerce, and to gain for
the British nation, in Central Asia, that legitimate influence
which an interchange of benefits would naturally prodnce.
" With a view to invite the aid of the de facto rulers of
Afghanistan to the measures necessary for giving full effect to
those treaties, Captain Burnes was deputed, towards the close
of the year 1836, on a mission to Dost Mahomed Khan, the
Chief of Cabool. The original objects of that officer's mis-
sion were purely of a commercial nature. Whilst Captain
Burnes, however, was on his journey to Cabool, information
was received by the Governor-General that the troops of Dost
Mahomed Khan bad made a sudden and unprovoked attack on
those of our ancient ally, Maha Raja Runjeet Singh. It was
naturally to be apprehended that his Highness the Maha Raja
would not be slow to avenge this aggression ; and it was to be
feared that the flames of war being once kindled in the very
regions into which we were endeavouring to extend our com-
merce, the peaceful and beneficial purposes of the British Go-
vernment would be altogether frustrated. In order to avert a re-
sult so calamitous,the Governor- General resolved on authorising
Captain Burnes to intimate to Dost Mahomed Khan, that if he
should evince a disposition to come to just and resonable
terms with the Maha Raja, his Lordship would exert his
good offices with his Highness for the restoration of an ami-
cable understanding between the two Powers. The Maha
Raja, with the characteristic confidence which he has
uniformly placed in the faith and friendship of the British
nation, at once assented to the proposition of the Governor.
General to the effect that, in the mean time, hostilities on his
part should be suspended.
" It subsequently came to the knowledge of the Governor-
General, that a Persian army was besieging Herat; that in-
trigues were actively prosecuted throughout Afghanistan, for
the purpose of extending Persian influence and authority to
the banks of, and even beyond the Indus; and that the Court
of Persia bad not only commenced a course of injury and insult
to the officers of her Majesty's mission in the Persian territory,
but had afforded evidence of being engaged in designs wholly
at variance with the principles and objects of its alliance with
Great Britain.

" After much time spent by Captain Burnes in fruitless ne-
gotiation at Cabool, it appeared that Dost Mahomed Khan,
chiefly in consequence of his reliance upon Persian encourage-
ment and assistance, persisted, as respected his misunderstand-
ing with the Sikhs, in urging the most unreasonable preten-
sions, such as the Governor-General could not, consistently
with justice and his regard for the friendship of Maha Raja
Runjeet Singh, be the channel of submitting to the considera-
tion of his Highness : that he avowed schemes of aggrandize.
ment and ambition injurious to the security and peace of the
frontiers of India; and that he openly threatened, in further.
ance of those schemes, to call in every foreign aid which he
could command. Ultimately he gave his undisguised support
to the Persian designs in Afghanistan, of the unfriendly and
injurious character of which, as concerned the British power
in India, he was well apprised, and by his utter disregard of
the views and interests of the British Government, compelled
Captain Burnes to leave Cabool without having effected any
of the objects of his mission.
" It was now evident that no further interference could be
exercised by the British Government to bring about a good
understanding between the Sikh ruler and Dost Mahomed Khan,
and the hostile policy of the latter chief showed too plainly that
so long as Cabool remained under his Government, we could
never hope that the tranquillity of our neighbourhood would be
secured, or that the interests of our Indian empire would be
preserved inviolate.
" The Governor. General deems it in this place necessary
to revert to the siege of Herat, and the conduct of the
Persian nation. The siege of that city has now been carried
on by the Persian army for many months. The attack upon
it was a most unjustfiable and cruel aggression, perpetrated
and continued notwithstandin_ the solemn and repeated re-
monstrances of the British Envoy at the court of Persia,
and after every just and becoming offer of accommodation
had been made and rejected. The besieged have behaved
with a gallantry and fortitude worthy of the justice of their
cause, and the Governor-General would vet indulge the hope
that their heroism may enable them to maintain a successful
defence until succours shall reach them from British India.
In the meantime, the ulterior designs of Persia, affecting the
interests of the British Goverment, have been, by a succes-
sion of events, more and more openly manifested. The Go-
vernor-General has recently ascertained by an official despatch
from Mr. M•Neill, her Majesty's Envoy, that his Excellency
has been compelled, by the refusal of his just demands, and
by a systematic course of disrespect adopted towards him by
the Persian Government, to quit the Court of the Shah, and
to make a public declaration of the cessation of all intercourse
between the two Governments. The necessity under which
Great Britain is placed of regarding the present advance of
the Persian arms into Afghanistan as an act of hostility
towards herself, has also been officially communicated to the
Shah under the express order of her Majesty's Government.
" The chiefs of Candahar (brothers of Dost Mahomed
Khan, of Cabool) have avowed their adherence to the Persian
policy, with the same full knowledge of its opposition to
the rights and interests of the British nation in India ; and
have been openly assisting in the operations against Herat.
" In the crisis of affairs consequent upwa the retirement
of our Envoy from Cabool, the Governor- General felt the
importandn of taking immediate measures for arresting the
rapid progress of foreign intrigue and aggression towards our
own territories.

" His attention was naturally drawn at this conjunc-
ture to the position and claims of Shah Shooja-001-Nlolk,
a monarch who, when in power, had cordially acceded to
the measures of united resistance to external enmity which
were at that time judged necessary by the British Government,
and who, on his empire being usurped by its present raters,
had found an honourable asylum in the British dominions.
" It had been clearly ascertained, from the information
furnished by the various officers who have visited Afghanistan,
that the Barukzye chiefs, from their disunion and ,unpopu-
larity, were ill fitted, under any circumstances, to be useful
allies to the British Government, and to aid us in our just
and necessary measure; of national defence. Yet so long as
they refrained from proceedings injurious to our interests and
security, the British Government acknowledged and respected
their autlaority. But a different policy appeared to be now
more th an justified by the conduct
of those chiefs, and to be
indisp, ;usable to our own safet The welfare of our pos-
y
sessifins in the East requires that. we should have on our wes-
terra frontier an ally who is interested in resisting aggression,
ar,d establishing tranquillity, in the pine of chief; ranging
Themselves in subservience to a hostile power, and seeking to
promote schemes of conquest and aggrandizement.
" Auer serious and mature deliberation the Governor-
General v," s satisfied that a pressing necessity, as well as

every consideration of policy and justiceThVa7"-----•al warranted us in
espousing the cause of Shah Shooja-001-Moolk, whose popu-
larity throughout Afghanistan had been proved to his Lord-
ship by the strong and unanimous testimony of the best
authorities. Having arrived at this determination, the Go-
vernor- General was further of opinion that it was just and
proper, no less from the position of Maha Raja Runjeet
Singh, than from his undeviating friendship towards the
British Government, that his Highness should have the offer
of becoming a party to the contemplated operations. Mr.
Macnaghten was accordingly deputed in June last to the
Court of his Highness, and the result of his mission has been
the conclusion of a tripartite treaty by the British Govern-
ment, the Maha Raja, and Shah Shoeja-001-Mnolk, whereby
his Highness is guaranteed in his present possessions, and
has bound himself to co-operate for the restoration of the
Shah to the throne of his ancestors. The friends and enemies
of any one of the contracting parties have been declared to
be the friends and enemies of all. Various points have been
adjusted which had been the subjects of discussion between
the British Government and his Highness the Mahe Raja,
the identity of whose interests with those of the Honourable
Company has now been made apparent to all the surrounding
States. A guaranteed independence will, upon favourable
conditions, be tendered to the Ameers of Sinde, and the in-
tegrity of Herat, in the possession of its present ruler, will be
fully respected; while by the measures completed, or in
progress, it may reasonably be hoped that the general freedom
and security of commerce will be promoted ; that the name
and just influence of the British Government will gain their
proper footing among the nations of Central Asia, that tran-
quillity will be established upon the most important frontier of
India, and that a lasting barrier will be raised against hostile
intrigue and encroachment.

"His Majesty Shah Shooja-00l- Moolk will enter Afganis-
tan surrounded by his own troops, and will be supported
against foreign interference and factious opposition by a Bri-
tish army. The Governor-General confidently hopes that the
Shah will be speedily replaced on his throne by his own sub-
jects and adherents; and when once he shall be secured in
power, and the independence and integrity of Afghanistan
established, the British army will be withdrawn. The Go-
vernor-General has been led to these measures by the duty
which is imposed upon him of providing for the security of the
possessions of the British Crown; but he rejoices that, in the
discharge of this duty, he will be enabled to assist in restoring
the union and prosperity of the Afghan people. Throughout
the approaching operations British influence will be sedulously
employed to further every measure of general benefit, to reconcile
differences, to secure oblivion of injuries, and to put an end to the
distractions by which, for so many years, the welfare and hap-
piness of the Afghans have been impaired. Even to the
chiefs whose hostile proceedings have given just cause of
offence to the British Government, it will seek to secure
liberal and honourable treatment, on their tendering early
submission, and ceasing from opposition to that course of
measures which may be judged the most suitable for the
general advantage of their country.
" By order of the Right Hon. the Governor-General of India,
" W. H. MACHAGHTEN,
" Secretary to the Government of India,
with the Governor-General."