History of Afghanistan, to the Outbreak of the War Of 1878

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1878 edition. Excerpt: ... powered the new Viceroy to offer to Amir Shir Ali the active countenance and protection which he had previously solicited at the hands of the British Government.* But before the native aide-de-camp selected by Lord Lytton to carry this message of reconciliation could reach Kabul--before even, I may say, Lord Lytton had set foot in India--the fatal rebuff of 1873--coinciding with an adverse decision, pronounced by British officers, on the subject of the Amir's dispute with Persia regarding Sistan; and with the urgent pleadings of the Government of India on behalf of Yakiib Khan--had driven Shir Ali into a condition of irreconcileable hostility towards England. * Lord Cranbrook's despatch to Lord Lytton, 18th November 1878, para. 10: -- "Accordingly, on your Excellency's departure from England to assume the Viceroyalty, her Majesty's Goverument instructed you to offer to Shere Ali that same active countenance and protection which he had previously solicited at the hands of the Indian Government. It was clearly impossible, however, to enter into any formal engagement in this sense without requiring from the Ameer some substantial proof of his unity of interests with the British Government. Whilst her Majesty's Government, therefore, authorised your Excellency to concede to his Highness substantial pecuniary aid, a formal recognition of his dynasty, so far as it would not involve active interference in the internal affairs of Afghanistan, and an explicit pledge of material support in case of unprovoked foreign aggression, you were directed not to incur these heavy reponsibilities unless Shere Ali, on his part, were prepared to allow a British agent, or agents, access to positions in his territories (other than at Cabul itself), where, ...