Mss Eur F699/1/1/2/26

Copies of letters from Governor General Charles Canning to Lieutenant Colonel John Jacob. Numbered 1-8, with index and detailed summaries.

1. Copy letter to Colonel J Jacob, 12 May 1856. Lord Canning writes privately upon the important matter on which the Bombay Government has been instructed to address Jacob, i.e. the answer given by Jacob to the letter of the Shahzadah Mahomed Yusoof of Herat. Lord Canning regrets the answer very much, though it was accurate, because the giving an answer at all was an act which might have, and may yet, embarrass both the Indian and British Governments. If the Queen's Minister in Persia had never left Teheran, or if, having left, he had returned in time to communicate with the Government of India about the proceedings of the Persian Government over Herat, it is probable that those proceedings would have become the ground of immediate action on the part of the Governor General in Council. Although it may be unlikely that an English force will go to Herat, it is possible that the Governments of England and India might apply pressure to Persia elsewhere, intended to have an effect on affairs at Herat. Lord Canning also greatly regrets that the messenger was dismissed without some notice of the insolent presumption of Mahomed Yusoof in displaying, or professing to have displayed, the English Flag at Herat; and in assuming that a person who had presented himself without credentials or authority of any kind to show, was an Agent of the British Government. Now the messenger has carried back to his master an answer from a British officer, without any rebuke of an act of unparalleled impudence. The presence of the messenger furnished an excellent opportunity of repudiating the impudent act, which may complicate further relations with Persia. Steps have now been taken to explain to the Shah the appearance of the English flag, and so-called English Agent, in a place where they should not be according to the Treaty of 1853. Lord Canning does not understand why Jacob gave an answer to the messenger, whose request was obviously intended to be addressed to, and replied by a Government. The letter came from the ruler of a foreign state, and one not in contact with the British frontier. With such states no officers has authority to deal until instructed to do so. The question raised by the Shahzadah was one not affecting the Government of India alone, but also that of England, and Jacob's answer will be taken to speak for both Governments, a responsibility which the Governor General himself cannot undertake. Lord Canning realises that Jacob thought the matter of no importance, but this should have delayed the reply, not precipitated it. The Governor General pays tribute to Jacob's character and services, and urges him to write unofficially on any matters of interest. Private.

2. Copy letter to Colonel J Jacob, 11 Jun 1856. Lord Canning replies to Jacob's letter of 26 May. He does not undervalue Jacob's character or services, nor does he wish to substitute forms of diplomacy for the high qualities enumerated in Jacob's letter. Jacob states that the answer returned to Mahomed Yusuf was expressly the reply of the local authority only, without reference to Government. There is not a word in it to show this. Lord Canning does not agree that the reply bound the Government to nothing. A declaration that the British Government has at present no intention of interfering with proceedings at Herat, made when a Persian Force had approached the city, is inconsistent with any preparations to compel the retirement of the force. But a few days before the arrival of the intelligence from Herat, the Government of India had received instructions of the Secret Committee to the effect that the occupation of Herat by Persia would be the signal for action on the part of the Imperial Government, and that the independence of Herat was to be regarded as a principle of British policy. If an immediate reply to Mahomed Yusuf was necessary it should have had no reference to the intentions of the Government. Jacob's letter alludes to his own first report of the facts as imperfect; undoubtedly it was so, and an officer of his experience should not have sent such a report; he gave no reasons why he considered the news from Herat to be unimportant, and this was not respectful to Government. Lord Canning still cannot judge why the news was considered unimportant. Lord Canning is glad to hear that the report of the display of the British flag, and the presence of the so-called British Agent, was false. Lord Canning cannot qualify his disapproval of Jacob's reply to Mahomed Yusuf. Reaffirms his respect and admiration for Jacob's services; but feels he should not conceal his opinion of what has recently occurred. The Government of England had already quarrelled with Persia on a different matter when the news of Herat came; so it was decided that the Government of England should also deal with, in the first instance, the question of Herat. Agrees with Jacob about the seriousness of the fall of Kars, but it was difficult to prevent. The Turks under Omer Bacha were unwilling to be sent to Asia Minor, and the French would not consent to the Turks leaving the Crimea for a long time. Lord Canning does not think a Turkish force would have reached Tiflis. Asks for information as to how Persia can be attacked other than on her Eastern Frontier. Karrak is no longer the talisman it has been, it was evacuated a few weeks ago, upon the appearance of 2 of 3 peaceful steamships. The trade of the Gulf is of little importance to the Government, who farm out the revenues of all the chief ports. The possible targets inland seem to be Shiraz or Shuster. Private.

3. Copy letter to Colonel J Jacob, 13 Jul 1856. Lord Canning thanks Colonel Jacob for his letter of 30 Jun which is most gratifying. Agrees with Jacob's views on the occupation of Bushire and Bunder Abbas. He is doubtful about a march upon Shiraz. News has reached Canning via London of the surrender of Herat, and the Government at home is ready to authorize the Indian Government to commence hostilities if Persia does not evacuate Herat. Asks Jacob's opinion of subsidising the Afghans. Private.

4. Copy letter to Colonel J Jacob, 26 Jul 1856. Lord Canning states that the reply to Jacob's official letters conveying the messages from the Khan's Wakeel has been sent. So little is known in Calcutta of the Khan's resources, that Canning could not state how much should be offered to him, if he was attacked by Persia. This will depend upon Jacob's advice; Jacob is authorised to offer aid to the Khan should it become urgent. If it is true that a Persian Army is near Jalk, it shows more determined aggression than Persia has shown previously. An Expedition to the Persian Gulf will be the first step, and until this has been proved insufficient Canning will be unwilling to send a single man across India's land frontier. Asks if the Khan's western boundary is clearly defined, and what protection the Khan can give to a district 250 miles from his capital. One of the chief difficulties of an expedition to the Gulf will be to provide cavalry; Jacob's cavalry has been drawn upon to supply Aden, would he be able to provide any more. Private.

5. Copy letter to Colonel J Jacob, 18 Oct 1856. Lord Canning has considered Jacob's proposal about Quetta, and agrees on the good influence the English would have on the population. But he cannot understand Jacob's proposal to occupy Quetta alone, without occupying the country between Quetta and the British, frontier. The difficulties of occupation under these conditions would be enormous. Eventually the British would find they had to govern the territory between Quetta and the frontier, and the red line of the map would be again pushed further westward, without finding such so good a resting-place as now. Canning also believes that any sign of interference with the Afghans will turn them into enemies. A temporary occupation of Quetta might be possible, but even then there would be difficulties, supply would be very complicated, asks for Jacob's suggestions.

6. Copy letter to Colonel J Jacob, 19 Oct 1856. Lord Canning tells Jacob that he must not think there is any unwillingness to place the relations of the Government of India with Dost Mahomed in his hands if it should become desirable. It has been the practice for communications to pass through the Punjab officers, and this will probably be continued, at least until the Government of India is in telegraphic communication with Jacob. The telegraph from Lahore or some station on that line to Kurrachee has been sanctioned. There have not been and will not be if Canning can avoid it, political discussions with Dost Mahomed. He will be supplied with arms and money against Persia but without any conditions. If anything should arise which should make it necessary for Jacob to communicate with the Amir on his own judgement and in the absence of direct authority, Canning will rely upon Jacob having acted for the best. In the same spirit he cannot blame the Chief Commissioner of the Punjab for applying directly to Jacob's subordinate in a case of emergency, when time was all. Jacob will have received authority to send Major Greene to Kelat temporarily, to keep the Khan or those around him to a proper use of the money which he has received. The Amir was told that an officer would be sent with the arms and money if the Amir desired it, and Major Lumsden will be sent if an officer is requested.

7. Copy letter to Colonel J Jacob, 4 Jan 1857. Lord Canning supposes that Jacob will have heard long before of the appointment of Sir James Outram to the command of the Army in Persia, and of the selection of Jacob and one of his regiments of Horse to join the Army. Outram is anxious that Jacob should receive the rank of Major General. Unfortunately the Governor General cannot give the rank of Major General to a Lieutenant Colonel even provisionally, but he will make Jacob a Brigadier General. Lord Canning will reclaim Jacob without scruple if he is needed on his own frontier. Canning hopes the appointment will be as agreeable to Jacob as it is to him to make it, not the least because of some differences in their views of some questions of frontier policy. Thanks Jacob for the 'Record Book of the Scinde Horse' and perhaps for a pamphlet 'Our North Western Frontier' received from England anonymously.

8. Copy letter to Colonel J Jacob, 26 Jan 1857. Lord Canning assures Jacob that he will give Captain Merewether the support Jacob asks for him. The Governor General has not heard of Merewether having proposed any officer for political duty with the Khan of Kelat, but he will comply with any wish upon that point expressed. The Government of India is ordered to punish Persia, not only for offences committed against India. The cost will be enormous. The strong remonstrance which Jacob addressed to the Government against the withdrawal of a regiment of the Sinde Horse led Canning to substitute in the Expedition of a mixed corps of Irregular Cavalry from the Bombay Presidency. But Canning has since heard that Jacob had decided one of his regiments will be necessary in Persia after all, and the substitution will not take place.