Mss Eur F126/85, ff 4-5

Proclamation drawn up by Charles Umpherston Aitchison, Secretary to the Government of India, on behalf of the Viceroy and Governor General in Council.

The proclamation outlines the attempt that was made on the life of Colonel Robert Phayre, late British Resident at the Court of His Highness the Guikwar [Gaekwar] and states that the evidence suggests that His Highness Mulhar Rao [Malharrao] Guikwar instigated the attempt to poison Colonel Phayre.

The proclamation outlines the view of the British Government that such an attempt is viewed as a high crime and an act of hostility against the British Government that a full and public enquiry into the case is necessary and that His Highness will be provided with every opportunity of defending himself against these suspicions, but that it is necessary to suspend His Highness from the exercise of power and to make other arrangements for the administration of the Baroda state, and that from this date the Viceroy and Governor General of India in Council will temporarily assume control and delegate responsibility to the Agent of the Governor General and Special Commissioner at Baroda.

The proclamation concludes by stating that once the enquiry has been concluded a native administration will be re-established and control of the state returned to it.