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After the end of the first Anglo-Sikh war,
the British governor-general, Lord Hardinge, entered the Sikh capital
on 20 February 1846, and on 9 March imposed upon the young Maharaja
Duleep Singh, then aged seven and a half years, a treaty of peace.
The preamble to the treaty accused the Lahore government and the Sikh
army of having violated the terms of the treaty of 1809 by unprovoked
aggression on British provinces. The territories of Maharaja Duleep
Singh, situated on the left bank of the Sutlej, were confiscated and
annexed. According to the terms of the treaty, the Maharaja renounced
for himself and his heirs all claims in connection with these territories.
He ceded to the East India Company in perpetual sovereignty, "all
his forts, territories and rights" in the Jalandhar Doab - the
territory both hilly and plain lying between the Sutlej and the Beds
- and agreed to the payment of one and a half crores of rupees as
indemnity for the expenses of the war.
As the Lahore government was unable to
pay this amount, additional hilly territory, situated between the
Beds and the Indus, including the provinces of Kashmir and Hazara,
was taken over by the British. The Sikh army which the British dubbed
in the treaty as "mutinous troops of the Lahore Army,"
was disbanded, and the strength of the new one to be organized was
restricted to 25 battalions of infantry (20,000 men), and 12,000
cavalry. Under certain specific conditions;, British troops were
to have free passage through Lahore territories. All guns used in
the war were to be surrendered to the British. Maharaja Duleep Singh
also agreed never to take or retain in his service any British subject
nor any European or American national without the consent of the
British. The Lahore government were to recognize the independent
sovereignty of Raja Gulab Singh in his possessions, and in those
which would be made over to him by the British government.
Additional articles supplementary to the treaty, added two days
later (11 March 1846), provided:
(a) that at the solicitation of the
Darbar, a British force would remain in occupation of Lahore, in
the fort as well as in the city, till the end of the year 1846,
to protect the Maharaja during the reorganization of the army,
(b) that the British government shall respect the bona fide rights
of jagirdars in the Lahore territories, and
(c) that the British government shall be at liberty to retain any
part of the State property in the forts in the ceded territories,
paying adequate compensation.
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The Text of the Treaty:
Treaty between the British Government
and the State of Lahore - 1846
Wheras the treaty of amity and concord, which was concluded between
the British government and the late Maharajah Runjeet Sing, the
ruler of Lahore, in 1809, was broken by the unprovoked aggression,
on the British Provinces, of the Sikh army, in December last;
and wheras, on that occasion, by the proclamation, dated 13th
December, the territories then in the occupation of the Maharajah
of Lahore, on the left or British bank of the river Sutlej, were
confiscated and annexed to the British Provinces; and since that
time hostile operations have been prosecuted by the two Governments;
the once against the other, which have resulted in the occupation
of Lahore by the British troops; and wheras it has been determined
that, upon certain conditions, peace shall be re-established between
the two Governments, the following treaty of peace between the
Honorable English East India Company and Maharajah Dhuleep Sing
Bahadoor, and his children, heirs and successors, has been concluded
on the part of the Honorable Company by Frederick Currie, Esquire,
and Brevet-Major Henry Montgomery Lawrence, by virtue of full
powers to that effect vested in them by the Right Hon'ble Sir
Henry Hardinge, G.C.B., one of her Britannic Majesty's Most Hon'ble
Privy Council, Governor-General, appointed by the Honorable Company
to direct and control all their affairs in the East Indies, and
on the part of His Highness Maharajah Dhuleep Sing by Bhaee Ram
Sing, Rajah Lal Sing, Sirdar Tej Sing, Sirdar Chuttur Sing Attareewalla,
Sirdar Runjore Sing Majeethia, Dewan Deena Nath and Fakeer Nooroodden,
vested with full powers and authority on the part of His Highness.
Article 1. There shall be prepetual peace and friendship
between the British Government on the one part,. and Maharajah
Dhuleep Sing, his heirs and successors on the other.
Article 2. The Maharajah of Lahore renounces for himself,
his heirs and successors, all claim to, or connection with the
territories lying to the south of the River Sutlej, and engages
never to have any concern with those territories or the inhabitants
thereof.
Article 3. The Maharajah cedes to the Hon'ble Company, in
prepetual sovereignty, all his forts, territories and rights in
the Doab or country, hill and plain, situated between the Rivers
Beas and Sutlej.
Article 4. The British Government having demanded from the
Lahore State, as indemnification for the expenses of the war,
in addition to the cession of territory described in Article 3,
payment of one and half crore of Rupees, and the Lahore Government
being unable to pay the whole of this sum at this time, or to
give security satisfactory to the British Government for its eventual
payment, the Maharajah cedes to the Honorable Company, in prepetual
sovereignty, as equivalent for one crore of Rupees, all his forts,
territories, rights and interests in the hill countries, which
are situated between the Rivers Beas and Indus, including the
Provinces of Cashmere and Hazarah.
Article 5. The Maharajah will pay to the British Government
the sum of 60 lakhs of Rupees on or before the ratification of
this Treaty.
Article 6. The Maharajah engages to disband the mutinous
troops of the Lahore Army, taking from them their arms-and His
Highness agrees to reorganize the Regular or Aeen Regiments of
Infantry, upon the system, and according to the Regulations as
to pay and allowances, observed in the time of the late Maharajah
Runjeet Sing. The Maharajah further engages to pay up all arrears
to the soldiers that are discharged, under the provisions of this
Article.
Article 7. The Regular Army of the Lahore State shall
henceforth be limited to 25 Battalions of Infantry, consisting
of 800 bayonets each with twelve thousand Cavalry - this number
at no time to be exceeded without the concurrence of the British
Government. Should it be necessary at any time - for any special
cause - that this force should be increased, the cause shall be
fully explained to the British Government, and when the special
necessity shall have passed, the regular troops shall be again
reduced to the standard specified in the former Clause of this
Article.
Article 8. The Maharajah will surrender to the British
Government all the guns-thirty-six in number-which have been pointed
against the British troops-and which, having been placed on the
right Bank of the River Sutlej, were not captured at the battle
of Subraon.
Article 9. The control of the Rivers Beas and Sutlej,
with the continuations of the latter river, commonly called the
Gharrah and the Punjnud, to the confluence of the Indus at Mithunkote-and
the control of the Indus from Mithunkote to the borders of Beloochistan,
shall, in respect to tolls and ferries, rest with the British
Government. The provisions of this Article shall not interfere
with the passage of boats belonging to the Lahore Government on
the said rivers, for the purpose of traffic or the conveyance
of passengers up and down their course. Regarding the ferries
between the two countries respectively, at the several ghats of
the said rivers, it is agreed that the British Government, after
defraying all the expenses of management and establishments, shall
account to the Lahore Government for one-half the net profits
of the ferry collections. The provisions of this Article have
no reference to the ferries on that part of the River Sutlej which
forms the boundary of Bhawulpore and Lahore respectively.
Article 10. If the British Government should, at any time,
desire to pass troops through the territories of His Highness
the Maharajah, for the protection of the British territories,
or those of their Allies, the British troops shall, on such special
occasion, due notice being given, be allowed to pass through the
Lahore territories. In such case the officers of the Lahore State
will afford facilities in providing supplies and boats for the
passage of rivers, and the British Government will pay the full
price of all such provisions and boats, and will make fair compensation
for all private property that may be damaged. The British Government
will, moreover, observe all due consideration to the religious
feelings of the inhabitants of those tracts through which the
army may pass.
Article 11. The Maharajah engages
never to take or to retain in his service any British subject-nor
the subject of any European or American
State-without the consent of the British Government.
Article 12. In consideration of the services rendered by Rajah
Golab Sing of Jummoo, to the Lahore State, towards procuring the
restoration of the relations of amity between the Lahore and British
Governments, the Maharajah hereby agrees to recognize the lndependent
sovereignty of Rajah Golab Sing in such territories and districts
in the hills as may be made over to the said Rajah Golab Sing,
by separate Agreement between himself and the British Government,
with the dependencies thereof, which may have been in the Rajah's
possession since the time of the late Maharajah Khurruck Sing,
and the British Government, in consideration of the good conduct
of Rajah Golab Sing, also agrees to recognize his independence
in such territories, and to admit him to the privileges of a separate
Treaty with the British Government.
Article 13. In the event of any dispute or difference arising
between the Lahore State and Rajah Golab Sing,
the same shall be referred to the arbitration of the British Government,
and by its decision the Maharajah engages to abide.
Article 14. The limits of the Lahore territories shall
not be, at any time, changed without the concurrence of the British
Government.
Article 15. The British Government will not exercise any
interference in the internal administration of the Lahore State-but
in all cases or questions which may be referred to the British
Government, the Governor-General will give the aid of his advice
and good offices for the furtherance of the interests of the Lahore
Government.
Article 16. The subjects of either State shall, on visiting
the territories of the other, be on the footing of the subjects
of the most favoured nation.
This Treaty consisting of sixteen articles, has been this day
settled by Frederick Currie, Esquire, and Brevet-Major Henry Montgomery
Lawrence acting under the directions of the Right Hon'ble Sir
Henry Hardinge, G.C.B., Governor-General, on the part of the British
Government, and by Bhaee Ram Sing, Rajah Lal Sing, Sirdar Tej
Sing, Sirdar Chuttur Sing Attareewalla, Sirdar Runjore Sing Majeethia,
Dewan Deena Nath, and Faqueer Noorooddeen, on the part of the
Maharajah Dhuleep Sing, and the said Treaty has been this day
ratified by the seal of the Right Hon'ble Sir Henry Hardinge,
G.C.B., Governor-General, and by that of His Highness Maharajah
Dhuleep Sing.
Done at Lahore, this ninth day of March,
in year of Our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-six;
corresponding with the,tenth day of Rubbee-ool-awul,
1262 Hijree, and ratified on the same date.
.. (Sd.) H. Hardinge (L.S.)
.. (Sd.) Maharajah Dhuleep Sing (L.S.)
.. Bhaee Ram Sing (L.S.)
.. Rajah Lal Sing (L.S.)
.. Sirdar Tej Sing (L.S.)
.. Sirdar Chuttur Sing Attareewalla (L.S.)
.. Sirdar Runjore Sing Majeethia (L.S.)
.. Dewan Deena Nath (L.S.)
.. Faqueer Noorooddeen (L.S.)
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ARTICLES OF AGREEMENT concluded between the BRITISH GOVERNMENT and
the LAHORE DURBAR on 11 March 1846
Whereas the Lahore Government has solicited the Governor-General to
leave a British Force at Lahore, for the protection of the Maharajah's
person and of the Capital, till the reorganization of the Lahore army,
according to the provisions of Article 6 of the Treaty of Lahore,
dated the 9th instant; and whereas the Governor-General has, on certain
conditions, consented to the measure; and whereas it is expedient
that certain matters concerning the territories ceded by Articles
3 and 4 of the aforesaid Treaty should be specifically determined,
the following eight Articles of Agreement have this day been concluded
between the aforementioned contracting parties.
Article 1. The British Government shall leave at Lahore, till
the close of the current year, AD 1846, such force as shall seem to
the Governor-General adequate for the purpose of protecting the person
of the Maharajah and the inhabitants of the City of Lahore, during
the reorganization of the Sikh Army, in accordance with the provisions
of Article 6 of the Treaty of Lahore. That force to be withdrawn at
any convenient time before the expiration of the year, if the object
to be fulfilled shall, in the opinion of the Durbar, have been attained-but
the force shall not be detained at Lahore beyond the expiration of
the current year.
Article 2. The Lahore Government agrees that the force left at
Lahore for the purpose specified in the foregoing Article shall be
placed in full possession of the Fort and the City of Lahore, and
that the Lahore troops shall be removed from within the City. The
Lahore Government engages to furnish convenient quarters for the officers
and men of the said force, and to pay to the British Government all
the extra expenses, in regard to the said force, which may be incurred
by the British Government, in consequence of the troops being employed
away from their own Cantonments and in a Foreign Territory.
Article 3. The Lahore Government engages to apply itself immediately
and earnestly to the reorganization of its army according to the prescribed
conditions, and to communicate fully with the British authorities
left at Lahore, as to the progress of such reorganization, and as
to the location of the troops.
Article 4. If the Lahore Government fails in the performance of
the conditions of the foregoing Article, the British Government shall
be at liberty to withdraw the force from Lahore at any time before
the expiration of the period specified in Article 1.
Article 5. The British Government agrees to respect the bona fide
rights
of those jaghiredars, within the territories ceded by Articles 3 and
4 of the Treaty of Lahore, dated 9th instant, who were attached to
the families of the late Maharajahs Runjeet Sing, Kurruk Sing and
Shere Sing; and the British Government will maintain those jaghiredars
in their bona Fide possessions during their lives.
Article 6. The Lahore Government shall receive the assistance
of the British Local Authorities in recovering the arrears of revenue
justly due to the Lahore Government from the kardars and managers
in the territories ceded by the provisions of Articles 3 and 4 of
the Treaty of Lahore, to the close of thekhureefharvestof thecurrentyear,
viz. 1902 of the Sumbut Bikramajeet.
Article 7. The Lahore Government shall be at liberty to remove
from the forts, in the territories specified in the foregoing Article,
all treasure and State property, with the exception of guns. Should,
however, the British Government desire to retain any part of the said
property, they shall be at liberty to do so, paying for the same at
a fair valuation, and the British officers shall give their assistance
to the Lahore Government in disposing on the spot of such part of
the aforesaid property as the Lahore Government may not wish to remove,
and the British Officers may not desire to retain.
Article 8. Commissioners shall be immediately appointed by the
two Governments to settle and lay down the boundary between the two
States, as defined by Article 4 of the Treaty of Lahore, dated March
9th, 1846.
(Sd.) H. HARDINGE (L.S.)
(Sd.) Maharajah Dhuleep Sing (L.S.)
.. Bhaee Ram Sing (L.S.)
.. Rajah Lal Sing (L.S.)
.. Sirdar Tej Sing (L.S.)
.. Sirdar Chuttur Sing Attareewalla (L.S.)
.. Sirdar Runjore Sing Majeethia (L.S.)
.. Dewan Deena Nath (L.S.)
.. Faqueer Noorooddeen (L.S.)
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