the location of an Envoy of Her Imperial Majesty the Empress, a
British Envoy was, at the special request of His Highness the
Amir, located at the Kabul Court, and the Amir guaranteed that he
should be treated honourably and protected.

Within six weeks after the said Envoy was received at and entered
Kabul the whole Embassy was besieged and massacred in the very
citadel of His Highness the Amir, who could not save or protect
them from the hands of the soldiers and the people. From this, the
lack of power of the Amir and the weakness of his authority in his
capital itself are quite apparent and manifest. For this reason
the British troops are advancing for the purpose of taking a
public vengeance on behalf of the deceased as well as of obtaining
satisfaction (_lit._, consolidation) of the terms entered into in
the Treaty concluded. The British troops are entering Afghanistan
for the purpose of strengthening the royal authority of His
Highness the Amir on condition that His Highness loyally uses
those powers for the maintenance of friendship and of amicable
relations with the British Government. This is the only course by
which the Amir's kingdom can remain intact, and (by which) also
the friendly sentiments and sincerity expressed in his letter of
the 4th September, 1879, after the occurrence of the (said) event
can be proved.

For the purpose of removing any doubt about the concord of the two
Governments, the Amir has been addressed to depute a confidential
agent to my camp. The British force will not punish or injure
anyone except the persons who have taken part or joined in the
massacre of the Embassy unless they offer opposition. All the
rest, the small and great, who are unconcerned (therein) may rest
assured of this. Carriage and supplies of every description should
be brought into the British camp. Full price and hire shall be
paid for everything that may be taken. Whereas mercy and
humanity are the characteristics of this great Government, this
proclamation is issued beforehand for the information of the
people at large.]

[Footnote 14: TRANSLATION OF A LETTER FROM MAJOR-GENERAL SIR FREDERICK
ROBERTS TO CERTAIN _maliks_ OF THE LOGAR VALLEY.

From the Proclamation already issued by me, you will have learnt
the reasons for the march of the British troops to Kabul. Her