Sikunder Burnes by Craig Murray

Author:Craig Murray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Birlinn
Published: 2016-11-23T05:00:00+00:00

Neither Burnes nor Witkiewicz give any account of joint meetings with the Emir. But plainly the Qazi believed Ranjit’s sympathies to be with Russia. He also reported that Burnes had sent Witkiewicz wine and fruit, showing that Britain was tributary to Russia – an unfortunate interpretation of Burnes’ well-meaning welcome. But it does seem that Witkiewicz and Burnes continued some friendly communication in Kabul – for example they updated each other on their reports from Herat.33

Witkiewicz now attempted to push Russian diplomacy right to the frontier of British India by proceeding to Lahore for discussions with Ranjit Singh. He wrote to Avitabile in Peshawar to inform him.34 Avitabile asked Ranjit for instructions, and Ranjit asked Mackeson for advice. Mackeson, a cynic about the ‘Russian threat’, appeared unconcerned. This attitude was reinforced by the fact that Ranjit had just given him news of the Persian defeat before Herat.35 There were senior Sikhs who argued that a Russian agent should be welcome to counter the demands of the British.36

Mackeson received instructions from Macnaghten to give Ranjit Singh a different reply:

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