That Historic Treaty

Buddhi Narayan Shrestha

The second article of the 1923 Treaty between Nepal and Britain states that all treaties, agreements and terms of engagement between the two governments, including the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, have been revoked. However, Nepal is yet to recover the vast territory it lost from the Sugauli Treaty.

A hundred years ago, on December 21, 1923, a treaty was signed between Nepal and Britain, which was important in the history of Nepal. Through this treaty, for the first time, Britain declared Nepal an independent and sovereign country and recognized it as a sovereign country. As a result, Nepal was able to adopt foreign policy in accordance with its national sentiment.

This treaty is considered to be one of the major achievements of Nepal’s diplomatic journey. In 1925, this treaty was added to the United Nations records. This was the first treaty signed between Nepal and The United Kingdom and recorded in the United Nations. This made Nepal’s international identity clear. Therefore, Nepal considers this treaty to be very important.

The two countries reached a conclusion after a long time after friendly discussions to implement it as the first treaty between Nepal and Britain. The main achievement of the treaty was the protection of Nepal’s independence and the increase in Nepal’s prestige all over the world. Realizing that Nepal is the oldest country in South Asia, the treaty had taken this mountainous country to great heights on the world map.

There are seven articles in the treaty. The first article states that the governments of Nepal and The United Kingdom shall maintain uninterrupted peace and friendly relations. Both will acknowledge and respect each other’s internal and external freedoms.

The second article states that all treaties, agreements and terms of engagement between the two governments since then, including the Sugauli Treaty of 1816, have been revoked by this treaty. However, Nepal is yet to recover the vast territory it lost from the Sugauli Treaty.

According to the third article, both sides have agreed to communicate information to each other in a friendly and peaceful manner by informing each other in case of disputes with the neighboring states, to remove such crises and mistrust in peace and friendship relations with the neighboring states, and to share information through diplomatic channels.

In the fourth article, it has been mentioned that activities will not be allowed against each other from the territory of their country. According to article 5, Nepal will be allowed to import weapons for its security. Article 6 states that Nepal can import goods brought in the public interest of its people without customs duty. Article 7 states that the treaty will come into force after the signing and ratification of the British Ambassador to Nepal, Lieutenant Colonel William Frederick Travers O’Connor on behalf of the British Government and The Prime Minister and Marshal Maharaja Chandra Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana on behalf of Nepal.

After signing the treaty, a press release was published by the Prime Minister of Nepal and the British Ambassador on the importance of the treaty. After this treaty, the British Ambassador addressed the Prime Minister of Nepal as ‘His Majesty’ while the Prime Minister of Nepal called him ‘His Excellency Ambassador’. Prior to that, the ambassador was called ‘Resident’ and the king was called ‘Your Highness’. The British representative in Nepal was earlier a resident and now an ambassador.

Chandra Shumsher wanted the recognition of a fully sovereign nation for Nepal. When Prince Wales, who later became King Edward, came to Kathmandu, Chandra Shumsher raised the issue of a new peace treaty between Nepal and Britain. The treaty was discussed between british officials in Kathmandu and London for more than a year. The agreement was finally signed at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu. Sardar Bhim Bahadur Pandey wrote in ‘Nepal at that time’ (Part-1, page 235), “After the signing of the treaty with British India on December 21, 1923, a kind of celebration was celebrated in Nepal. The poor and no means of support were fed and Deepawali was celebrated in the city with fanfare. 107 years ago, the stigma in the name of Nepal was removed on that day. ’

British interests

A study of the discussions and discussions within a year and a half in the process of making some writings and treaties before and after this treaty shows that Nepal’s help to Britain and some interests of Britain have also worked in it.

On May 15, 1815, Amar Singh Thapa and The Englishman David Ochterlony signed an agreement at the Fortress of Malaun. Doubting that Nepal would abolish the process and stop recruiting Nepalis in the British regiment, Britain had the interest of signing this treaty of 1923. Chandra Shumsher, on the other hand, feared that britain would not accept the title of his Shree Teen Maharaja (prime minister).

It was expressed on behalf of Nepal that he should recognize Shree Teen, and with this, take as many Nepalis as needed for the British Army. Britain recognized the title of Shree Teen Maharaja and in return, Nepali youth could be recruited in the British Army. Military history writer. According to Prem Singh Basnyat, around 80,000 Nepali youths had gone to the UK to join the British Army during the first world war.

Nepal’s gratefulness paid by the British

In the First World War from 1914 to 18, Britain, France and Russia were on one side, and Germany and Austria on the other. Nepal’s Maharaja Chandra Shumsher had promised to help the British ambassador by providing the necessary troops to the British government involved in the war. At a time when the whole world was engaged in war, Britain needed a large number of troops to save its country. Nepal had sent about 14,000 best soldiers to help the British government. During the war, Germany tried very hard to take nepal’s hand. But Chandra Shumsher did not show any interest in it. In this way, the Emperor of Britain sent a letter of gratitude to Chandra Shumsher for the interest and enthusiasm shown by Nepal to help the British government.

Secondly, the Masoods of Waziristan, now in Pakistan, were already persecuting the British government. The English military campaign against Massoud began in March 1917. In the military campaign against this caste, among other platoons, the Rephal Regiment and The Mahindra Dal Regiment were deployed by the Nepali Army.

The regiment’s 43rd brigade attacked the densely populated mass of Massouds and destroyed a large crowd. The area was completely dominated by the British. Prime Minister Chandra Shumsher was honored with the honor of ‘Honorary General’ of the British Army to pay the credit for the bravery of the Nepali Army during the First World War, including this military operation.

Third, a few months after the end of The First World War, there was a war between the British government and Afghanistan. On May 5, 1919, the British government requested Nepal for military assistance. Like during the First World War, Chandra Shumsher sent 6,000 Nepali troops in June of the same year. Meanwhile, Afghanistan signed a peace treaty with the British government without any conditions and did not have to fight any more wars. In this way, the people who led the army were honored with various honors as a mark of respect for their contribution to the occasion even though they did not have to take part in the war.

Conclusion

The 1923 Nepal-Uk Treaty is very important for Nepal as the British government has formally recognized Nepal as a sovereign independent state and is also listed in the United Nations. As a result of this treaty, 181 of the UN member states have established diplomatic relations with Nepal so far. Nepal’s identity in the world is increasing. In today’s context, not only the neighboring countries India and China, but also the UNITED States, which has seven seas far sky borders, has been giving importance to Nepal.

The Government of Nepal should organize grand programs around December 21 (December 21) to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the 1923 treaty between the two countries to keep Nepal-UK relations intact and to advance Nepal’s diplomatic history. The Nepali Embassy in London, the British Embassy in Kathmandu, the UK Development Office, the British Library London, the British Gurkha Welfare, etc. should organize various programs to highlight the importance of the treaty.