Lehal Library

204 Punjab Monarchy and Imperialism of Holkar's negotiations with the Afghans.) On the other side were the English, who threatened to pursue Holkar if he were not expelled from Amritsar. The position that Lord Lake had taken left no doubt in the mind of anyone that the English demand was no idle threat.• It appears that Ranjit Singh first convinced himself of British military superiority before coming to the decision that it would not be opportune to join the Marathas to fight the British.5 He decided to enter into an agreement with the British and become a mediator in the Angl<rMaratha dispute. On 1 January 1806 Ranjit Singh and Fateh Singh Ahluwalia signed a treaty of friendship and amity with the East India Company, undertaking to 'causejaswant Rao Holkar to remove with his army to the distance of thirty coss from Amritsar immediately.' In return. the Company undertook to remove its encampment on the Beas. The Company also gave a solemn undertaking to the effect that 'as long as the said chieftains, Ranjit Singh and Fateh Singh, abstain from holding any friendly connection with the enemies of that (i.e., the British} government, or from committing any act of hostility on their own parts against the said government, Lbe British amues shall never enter the territories of the said chieftains nor will the British government form any plans for the seizure or sequestration of their possessions or property.'6 Meanwhile Lord Wellesley, who had pursued an aggressive policy against the Marathas, was replaced by Lord Cornwallis as governor general. Lord Cornwallis had been given specific 4 SC 19 of 9.1.1806. In a despatch Lake wrote: 'l resolved to occupy a position on the south bank of lhe Beas al a distance of about 35 miles from Amritsar, and 45 miles from Ludhiana, which, while i1 sea.u-ed my supplies, would be likely to give Ranjit Singh confidence to opposejaswant Rao Holkar or at all events to deter him from embracing Lhe cause of that chief.' 5 Ranjit Singh told several visitors that he had gone to the British camp in disguise 9.J.ld met Lord Lake. Lake makes no mention of this meeting. 6 Treaty of Lahore, 1806.