afghanistanthe time this news reached Burnes and McNeill the damage had been done.
British officials regarded Simonich’s actions as conclusive proof that Russia
was behind the Persian invasion, which it was exploiting in order to extend
its influence to the gates of India. 48 This assumption was reinforced when
Lieutenant Vitkevich arrived in Kabul in early December bearing letters
addressed to Dost Muhammad Khan from the Shah of Persia and Count
Simonich. In a demonstration of good faith, the Amir showed Burnes
Simonich’s letters, which caused him to be even more alarmed, for the
Shah urged the Amir to accept Persian suzerainty while Simonich offered
to assist Dost Muhammad Khan in the event of a Sikh attack on Kabul.
Burnes now found himself caught up in a major geopolitical crisis that
had not been anticipated when his official instructions had been issued.
McNeill in Tehran had wide powers to deal with the situation from his end
but Burnes had no such authority, yet by the time he received new instruc
tions Herat, Balkh and Kandahar may well have fallen and the Amir, in
desperation, would probably accept the offer of Russian assistance against
the Sikhs. What Burnes did not know was that Asaf alDaula’s advance had
stalled and news of his return to Herat did not reach him until February,
for Dr Lord’s letters were held up due to the winter snows blocking the
passes between Qunduz and Kabul. After discussing the situation with
Dost Muhammad Khan, the Amir agreed to wait three months so that
Burnes could receive an official response from Calcutta to the Persian and
Russian letters. Meanwhile, Vitkevich remained in Kabul, but was denied
an audience with the Amir.
In the light of the information he had to hand in early December 1837,
Burnes concluded that there was ‘no course left’ but to act immediately.
Lieutenant Leech, one of his assistants, was dispatched to Kandahar with
a letter urging the Dil brothers to abrogate the treaty with Persia and, in
return, Burnes pledged British cash and troops to defend them against
possible Persian aggression. Burnes then broke with official protocol and
wrote a passionate appeal directly to the Governor General, circumvent
ing Wade and Macnaghten, in which he justified his actions and asked
Auckland to endorse his offer of financial and military assistance to the
Kandahar sardars. Burnes also reported that Dost Muhammad Khan had
made further concessions on the Sikh question. While he was still not
prepared to send Akbar Khan to Lahore, he was now willing to write
apologizing for the attack on Jamrud and offer Ranjit Singh condolences
for the death of Hari Singh. To compensate for this loss of face, however,
the Amir requested Britain use its good offices to persuade Ranjit Singh
to let one of his sons govern Peshawar under Sikh sovereignty. He even