To the chiefs of the protected Sutlej states issued on 13 December
1845, two days after the Sikh army had crossed the Sutlej, is a declaration
of war against the State of Lahore. Fear of possible repercussions
in the Sutlej Sikh states was responsible for this proclamation. The
Proclamation accuses the Sikh army of having invaded the British territories.
The British government, it maintains, had observed faithfully the
conditions of the treaty of amity signed in 1809 with Maharaja Ranjit
Singh since whose death the disorganized state of the Lahore government
had compelled it to adopt precautionary measures for the protection
of the British frontier. Active military preparations at Lahore had
necessitated the advance of the British troops towards the Sutlej
to reinforce the frontier posts. It was the intention of the British
government to protect British territories, and punish "the violators
of treaties and the disturbers of public peace." The Proclamation
also declared the possessions of Maharaja Duleep Singh on the left
bank of the Sutlej confiscated and annexed to the British territories.
The proclamation called upon the chiefs and the sardars in the protected
territories to cooperate with the British government for the punishment
of the "common enemy," assuring them that the protecting
power would promote their interests. Subjects of the British government,
who shall continue in the service of the Lahore State, shall be liable
to have their property on this side of the Sutlej confiscated, and
have themselves declared to be aliens and the enemies of the British
government.
The myth that the Sikhs had violated the treaty and broken the
peace without provocation must be dispelled. Hectic military preparations
on the part of the British across the Sutlej had led the Sikhs to
forestall them. A British army 45,000 strong, with 98 guns, had
been assembled at the Sutlej frontier; a warlike flotilla of 60
gunboats of 3 tons each and 56 pontoons to bridge the Sutlej for
an invasion of the Punjab was ready at Firozpur. Movements of British
troops could scarcely be concealed from the Khalsa army panchayats,
who insisted on the surrender of Raja Suchet Singh's treasure buried
in Firozpur, restoration of the village of Maurati, and a free passage
for troops into their Sutlej possession which had been virtually
seized by the British. Refusing to deal with the Khalsa, the British
declared that there was no recognized head of the State. Already
on 6 December, the British forces at Ambala and Meerut had moved
forward towards Firozpur and Ludhiana; on 11 December they were
still advancing towards the frontier when the Sikh army, in large
numbers, crossed the Sutlej.
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