Duke of Edinburgh should be guest of Govt of India which should pay his expenses; such expenditure justified by political importance of visit to India by Queen's son.
Acknowledges Mayo's letter of 26 December; explains circumstances surrounding appointment of Lord Napier (C-in-C, Bombay) as Mansfield's successor as C-in-C, India, which had led to complaint from Mansfield; regarding change in C-in-C's position suggested by Mayo, Argyll needed to consult some me...
Defends Council of India from Mayo's imputation that adverse features in reply to his despatch of 18 Oct on education was due to them; Argyll believes government by telegraph dangerous in such grave matters.
Foreign Office fears on policy towards Persia in Persian Gulf, and danger of taking too local and Indian a view; Zanzibar subsidy to Muscat one of very few questions Argyll has taken to Cabinet who are unanimously opposed to it – Argyll thinks it an unjust use of British power; crisis on home mil...
Need for caution with local taxes while increased income tax is causing dissatisfaction – rate for roads more natural and more easily understood than one for education; Alcock's alarming representations that we should consider agreeing mutual reductions in opium crops; doubtful of advisability of...
Question whether persons having CB should also be eligible for CSI; even if opium revenue does not fail, believes new source of revenue will be required and suggests tobacco excise; need for reduction in expenditure.
W H Sykes (former East India Company Chairman) carried address in Commons on compensation for bonus payments for Indian Army officers which will necessitate enquiry whether terms of promise by Lord Cranborne in 1866 (when Secretary of State for India) have been properly fulfilled; impossible to m...
Pros and cons of changing to narrow gauge, particularly on Indus valley line; differing views on what narrow gauge should be, but whatever is chosen should become the uniform narrow gauge for all subsidiary lines; Argyll's despatch will support whatever Mayo's ultimate decision may be.
Encloses letter sent by James Wilson (editor, Indian Daily News) in Calcutta to Lord Salisbury, claiming that troops in Allahabad were on verge of mutiny [cf Mayo's letter to Argyll of 9 September (1)] and that there was widespread disaffection in India and dissatisfaction with Government among E...
Encloses paper by (Sir) G Chesney (Bengal Engineers) on establishment in England of Civil Engineering College for India, which is opposed by various sectional interests.