nistan in the early autumn at latest; and he desired Sir Oliver
St. John (Sir Donald Stewart's political officer, who was at that time
in Calcutta), immediately on his return to Kandahar, to communicate
with Abdur Rahman, through his mother, the Viceroy's willingness to
make him Ruler of Kabul and Turkestan, if he would accept the terms
offered to him without delay.

The Viceroy communicated his views to the Secretary of State in the
following telegram:

'Necessary to find without delay some Native authority to which we
can restore northern Afghanistan without risk of immediate anarchy
on our evacuation of Kabul not later than next autumn, and if
possible earlier. No prospect of finding in the country any man
strong enough for this purpose. I therefore advocate early public
recognition of Abdur Rahman as legitimate heir of Dost Mahomed,
and open deputation of Sirdars with British concurrence to offer
him throne of Afghanistan as sole means of saving the country from
anarchy. Do you approve?'

Lord Cranbrook's reply was as follows:

'Assuming that Abdur Rahman is acceptable to the country, and that
he would be content with northern Afghanistan, it is desirable to
support him at Kabul; the more spontaneous any advances to him
on the part of the Sirdars, and the less appearance of British
influence, the better. But where is he? And how do you propose
to learn his wishes and intentions? If invited by Chiefs, every
inducement to bring him to Kabul should be then held out. Public
recognition should not precede, but follow, his adoption by
Sirdars, and his acceptance of the position.'

By the end of March authentic intelligence was received that
Abdur Rahman had made himself master of Afghan-Turkestan, and was
corresponding with the representative Sirdars at Kabul. It seemed,
therefore, that the time had arrived when distinct overtures might
be made to Abdur Rahman; accordingly, on the 1st April Mr. Griffin
addressed to him the following letter:

'It has become known that you have entered Afghanistan, and
consequently this letter is sent you by a confidential messenger,
in order that you may submit to the British officers at Kabul
any representations that you may desire to make to the British
Government with regard to your object in entering Afghanistan.'

Abdur Rahman, in his friendly but guarded reply,[5] expressed in
general