late Maharajah Shere Singh, the
disorganized state of the Lahore government has made it incumbent
on the Governor-General in council to adopt precautionary measures
for the protection of the British frontier; the nature of these
measures, and the cause of their adoption, were at that time fully
explained to the Lahore Durbar.

"Notwithstanding the disorganized state of the Lahore government
during the last two years, and many most unfriendly proceedings on
the part of the Durbar, the Governor-General in council has
continued to evince his desire to maintain the relations of amity
and concord which had so long existed between the two states, for
the mutual interests and happiness of both. He has shown on every
occasion the utmost forbearance, from consideration to the helpless
state of the infant Maharajah Dhuleep Singh, whom the British
government had recognised as the successor to the late Maharajah
Shere Singh.

"The Governor-General in council sincerely desired to see a strong
Sikh government re-established in the Punjaub, able to control its
army and to protect its subjects. He had not, up to the present
moment, abandoned the hope of seeing that important object effected
by the patriotic efforts of the Sikhs and people of that country.

"The Sikh army recently marched from Lahore towards the British
frontier, as it was alleged by the orders of the Durbar, for the
purpose of invading the British territory.

"The Governor-General's agent, by direction of the
Governor-General, demanded an explanation of this movement, and no
reply being returned within a reasonable time, the demand was
repeated. The Governor-General, unwilling to believe in the hostile
intentions of the Sikh government, to which no provocation had been
given, refrained from taking any measures which might have a
tendency to embarrass the government of the Maharajah, or to induce
collision between the two states.

"When no reply was given to the repeated demand for explanation,
and while active military preparations were continued at Lahore,
the Governor-General considered it necessary to order the advance
of troops towards the frontier to reinforce the frontier posts.

"The Sikh army has now, without a shadow of provocation, invaded
the British territories.