150 MAJOR W. HODSON, 



the commencement of negotiations with us is the 

 beginning of evil days for Afghanistan. In India 

 we must either keep altogether aloof or absorb. All 

 our history shows that sooner or later connection 

 with us is political death. The sunshine is not more 

 fatal to a dew-drop than our friendship or alliance 

 to an Asiatic kingdom." 



Hodson's views on this matter were shared by 

 such men as John Lawrence, Abbott, Nicholson, and 

 Outram. In spite, however, of many grave objec- 

 tions to any alliance with a native Power, it was 

 fortunate for India that the policy proposed by 

 Edwardes received the sanction of the Governor- 

 General. On March 20, 1855, was signed at the 

 mouth of the Khaiber Pass, by John Lawrence 

 and a son of Dost Muhammad Khan, the treaty 

 by which the Amir of Kabul agreed to become 

 "the friend of our friends and the enemy of our 

 enemies, "^the treaty which left the door open for 

 a closer alliance whenever circumstances might 

 seem to call for it. 



