'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎93r] (190/228)

13
Sms ® V , ident that ; if the question of
fw n ^ pal was t0 be dealt with by the
oueu G °I er “ ts in a perfectly frank and
open manner it was essential that the confi-
ence shown by the Government of India in
16 of tlie durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). should be reci
procated, and that the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). should scrupu-
ously regard the implied conditions on which
tbe permission to import had been given.
23. The Minister in reply expressed his
surprise at learning that the Government of
India, m granting the concession for the pur
chase of war material by the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). had done
so with the object of ensuring that the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family).
should have no ground for manufacturing war
material in their arsenals in a surreptitious
manner. He stated that the outturn of the
one arsenal which was working was poor in
quality and inadequate to the needs of the
country, and pointed out that it was essential
that his Government should possess a reason
ably efficient army, having regard both to the
wild and unruly character of many of the
tribes which inhabit Nepal and to the danger
of attack from the Tibetan side. He stated,
however, that he would be perfectly satisfied
with the purchase of any supplies that His
Excellency the Viceroy might deem it reason
able for Nepal to possess.
The Government of India replied
that, while they were glad to receive the assur
ances of the Minister, they were unable to
share his apprehensions as to the possibility of
hostile movements on the part of Tibet of
so serious a nature as to necessitate any
marked increase to the military resources and
armament of Nepal. They expressed their
willingness, as in the past, to comply with
each requisition for additional arms as might
appear to be reasonable, and relied upon the
Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). to keep them fully informed of any
arrangements that might be made for the
manufacture of arms and ammunition within
Nepal territory.
In July 1905, the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). again re
opened the question of the manufacture of
warlike material in the State by submitting a
request to be allowed to improve their machin
ery by purchasing various articles, which
were required in order to render it efficient.
At the same time they asked to be
allowed to purchase from the Government of
India 1,300,000 rounds of Martini-Henry
ammunition yearly, in order to put their troops
through a course of practice, and 2,500 rounds
of Lee-Metford ammunition for the purpose
of training the Prime Minister s body guard
in the use of 25 Lee-Metford rifles which had
been presented to the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). by the Govern
ment of India in 1901. The Besident was
directed to inform the Durbar A public or private audience held by a high-ranking British colonial representative (e.g. Viceroy, Governor-General, or member of the British royal family). that the Gov
ernment of India were pleased to sanction