Question

Write a brief comment on auxiliary treaty.

Hint:

Introduced by Lord Wellesley from 1798; used to subordinate Indian princely states.

Answer 1

Step 1: Introduce the policy:
The Subsidiary (Auxiliary) Alliance system was devised by Lord Wellesley, Governor-General of India, from 1798 onwards, as a tool to extend British paramountcy over Indian princely states without direct annexation.

Step 2: State the terms:
Under this treaty, an Indian ruler had to accept a British force stationed in his territory and pay for its maintenance (the 'subsidy'); he had to accept a British Resident at his court; surrender control of foreign affairs to the British; and could not employ non-British Europeans without British consent.

Step 3: State the guarantee and penalty:
In return, the British promised to protect the ruler from external and internal threats; if the ruler failed to pay the subsidy, part of his territory could be annexed (as happened with Awadh's Doab region).

Step 4: State its impact:
States like Hyderabad, Awadh, Mysore and the Maratha states were drawn into this system, which effectively reduced their sovereignty while leaving nominal rule intact, paving the way for eventual British paramountcy across India.

Final Answer:
\[ \boxed{\text{Subsidiary Alliance: princely states hosted/paid for British troops, ceded foreign policy control, in exchange for British protection}} \]