Q. With reference to the Treaty of ‘Eternal Friendship’ signed between the British and the Amirs of Sindh, consider the following statements:
1.The treaty was prompted by the 1807 Treaty of Tilsit, which raised British fears of a joint Franco-Russian overland invasion of India.
2.Under the terms of the 1809 treaty, the Amirs promised to exclude the French from Sindh and to prevent them from establishing any settlements.
3.This treaty marked the first formal defensive agreement where the British agreed to protect Sindh from the expansionist designs of Maharaja Ranjit Singh.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Explanation:
Statement 1: Correct. The Treaty of Tilsit (1807) between Napoleon and Alexander I of Russia included plans for a joint invasion of India. This forced the British to seek alliances with frontier states like Sindh to create a geopolitical barrier.
Statement 2: Correct. In 1809, Nicholas Smith negotiated a treaty with the Amirs where both parties promised “eternal friendship” and the Amirs specifically agreed to exclude the French from their territories.
Statement 3: Incorrect. While it was the first formal agreement, it was not a defensive alliance providing protection against Ranjit Singh at that time. It was primarily focused on excluding European rivals (the French). Defensive clauses and British mediation in Maratha or Sikh disputes came much later.
