Page 4 Advertisements Column 4

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17964, 8 March 1930, Page 4

The bazaars of India are alive with rumours that Sir Hari Singh, the Maharajah of Kashmir, intends to dispose of Kashmir to the British Government (states the “Sunday Express” .Delhi correspondent). It is stated that Sir . Hari, with other native princes, is viewing with concern the possibility of an Indian Government which might eventually interfere with his personal rule. These princes have indeed made representations that, ■whatever may happen, they should nave their position assured by djrect access to the KingEmperor, through the Viceroy. If Sir Hari Singh were to sell Kashmir, with its 80,900 square miles and population of nearly three millians, it would be the greatest and most picturesque Empire deal since Lord Beaconsfield bought the Suez Canal shares. which gave us control of the waterway to the East. The Valley of Kashmir is the Eden of Asia, a land of beauty and romance, of natural fertility, and having splendid mineral possibilities. In such a temperate climate the British Army could billet in comfort and health all the year round, with Hindustan strategically at its feet. At one time when Lord Curzon was Viceroy there was a possibility of taking over the. Happy Valley among the Himalayas, but circumstances were against it. Kashmir once belonged to Britain. In the forties of last century, during the first Sikh war, Britain occupied Lahore, and also came into possession of Kashmir, which had been an appendage of Sikh Punjab. Sir Hari Singh’s ancestor, G ll lab Singh, Maharajah of Jammu, had helped Britain in the struggle with the Sikhs, and in consideration of this he was practically made a present of Kashmir. By the contract, dated March, 1846, ho paid less than half a million pounds for it. and undertook to assist this country with his whole army, whenever calle.d upon, to keep an open road for the British forces through Kashmir, and to acknowledge our full supremacy. A token of this contract was a yearly tribute of six Kashmir shawls, which, ever since, have come to the British Sovereign. Queen Victoria gave these to her ladies. Queen Mary also received these gifts, and Sir Hart Singh and his high officials take great care that the shawls shall be as beautiful ns the deft hands of Kashmir women can make them. Watered by the melting snows of the Himalayas, Kashmir could irrigate half (he parched Punjab and make it blossom So far it has been jealously guarded from outside material development, and its people remain primitive and pastoral. »l 7 SJ Sir Hari Singh.

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