PROCLAMATION BY DULEEP SINGH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2614, 13 April 1889, Page 6 (Supplement)

PROCLAMATION BY DULEEP SINGH.

The Paris correspondent of the Standard telegraphed on Tuesday :—" Having heard in an indirect way that Maharajah Duleep Singh had addressed a proclamation, which will soon reach India, to

those whom he calls his subjects, I went to him this morning, and found the report to be correct. He however, refused to communicate the document to me; but I have succeeded in obtaining it from another person. It is as follows :— " Brother Princes .'and People of India. —Doubtless you are anxious for an account of our stewardship ; but we think it prudent not to publish full details for the present, as by doing so it might be dangerous to the interests of those who are friendly to you. However, this much we can assert—it is apparent to the whole world that at this moment the attention of every great European Power is entirely occupied in the maintenance of peace in this qunrter of the globe; but should a war break out this state of affairs must certainly undergo a total change, and we believe it will be to your advantage, It is, therefore, for you to decide whether you will await patiently the occurrence of this tragic event, or wish us to proceed to your assistance. "Both in Europe and Amorica there are thousands of brave men who sympa-

thise deeply and sincerely with you, and who would willingly volunteer to form any army to fight for your deliverance ; but in this case, money is necessary, and you will ba required to raise the funds indispensable to the purchase of arms and munitions of war. In the opinion of competent military authorities, the sum of between three and four millions of pounds sterling will be sufficient, and this should be placed at the disposal of the Committee of Organisation in Europe. Perhaps i , ; might be better if you would thus help yourselves, rather than incur obligations to others whose demands for rendering assistance to you cauuot now be ascertained or estimated, whereas you would thus know the utmost that you can be called upon to sacrifice in effecting your freedom. Therefore consider this matter carefully, and make up your mind, remembering at the same time that some forty-three thousand Piinjabees, and some thousands of Irish soldiers now in the British army in India, will freely shed their blood for your liberty. Full details of the proposed plan of action cannot, fur obvious reasons, be published, but every information will be furnished to any confidential messenger that you may send to us through our cousins. "Countrymen, be brave! Bβ great and noble, like your ancestors ! But and above all, for God's sake, be united among yourselves! Remember that only in unity can strength be found against our enemies. " Dulkep Singh, Sovereign of the Sikh Nations, and implacable foe to the British Government." From the long conversation I had with the Maharajah, I can supplement this doonment with further Ah was stated in the Standard when the Maharajah arrived here from Russia, in November, his ostensible object in coming to Paris was to sell his jewels. He even nowafSrmshe would not have left tho Czar's dominions had it not been to dispose of them ; but, being in France, ho has received many emissaries from India and numerous long reports, with whioh

he is highly pleased. From those he has obtaiued the firm conv iotion that at least ninety per cent, of the Indian Princes are devoted to his cause, and will ere long rise like one man in revolt against their British oppressors. The secret organisa-

tion for that rebellion is, he says, progressing most satisfactorily. Things are in such an advanced state that were he now to appear in India the rebellian, which he thinks will ruin British rule there, would break out immediately.

The Maharajah told me he wanted four million pounds to organise and equip a volunteer force to accompany him to hia native land. He had ascertained that he could get volunteers to join him from Ireland, Hungary, Austria, Russia, France, and even Germany. These men would receive no pay till they reached India, but when there he would have no difficulty in raising money, by forced loans if necessary. Ho knew it would be a difficult matter for the Indian Princes to send him money without raising the suspicions of tho British authorities; therefore he did not rely entirely on that, He knew there were some forty thousand Sikh troops on whom he could count absolutely, and that the three or four thousand Irish in the British Indian army

would join the revolt. In case of the four million pounds not being sent him he will not, he says, abandon his project. If he should obtain, either from India or elsewhere, only one million pounds, he would act at once, and if he gets nothing he will even then probably go, and, arriving alone, declare the Holy War. Speaking of the Indian Princes, ho said they and he himself have recently had every reason to be overjoyed at the conduct of the British authorities, who had been arming the troops of several Princes they believed to be loyal with breachloading rifles, which will, he affirms, be used against those who supplied them. On my pointing out that he might be mistaken, Maharajah Dulcep Singh smiled sarcastically, and added—" Why, you think they are loyal because they say anything you like to please you ; but you will before long find out to your cost you cannot depend on what a man says when you have your hands at his throat ready to strangle him if he utters a word which displeases you. Mark my word, you will find my estimate of ninety per cent, of the Princes who will join in the revolt is not too high." In the meantime the Maharajah pretends to be afraid of assassination. He was some considerable time ago put on his guard against it by a letter from a Frenchman, whose brother was formerly in the service of King Thebaw of Burmah. Of course the Maharajah did not divulge to me his plan for driving the English out of India, but he said he had Dot overlooked Burmah in his combinations. Just as I left he added, " You will ' eee, I shall make my appearance in India. I do not care one jot for my life ; but I am a prophet, and I am certain of being supported by my people. I may be beaten, but I do not believe it, and I shall at least either die or be victorious*."