Foreign Policy Vacillation Under Rana Regime

Yuba Nath Lamsal

Geopolitical compulsion has been a key determinant in foreign policy formulation right from the time when the concept of a nation state started emerging in Nepal.  Soon after the unification, Nepalese rulers tried to adopt independent foreign policy based on Nepal's need and demand, but the internal political brickbats and intrigue constrained the desire to reach out to the world. Although Jung Bahadur Rana came to power with British support, he had subtly tried to come out from the British-centric policy once he consolidated his hold onto power. Jung Bahadur's efforts to reach out to Europe and even Africa and maintain a balance with the northern neighbour was partly his desire to adopt independent foreign policy and partly out of his dissatisfaction with the British. Jung Bahadur's dissatisfaction with the British brewed after Nepal helped the East India Company to curb Sepoy mutiny in India. After successfully controlling the Sepoy mutiny, Jung Bahadur had expected the return of territories taken by the British from Nepal during the Anglo-Nepal war. But the British returned only a part of the western Terai.

Secret circular

Jung Bahadur expressed his displeasure with the British in different ways. After the Sepoy mutiny, British wanted more Gurkha soldiers in their army. Although it had been agreed in the Sugauli Treaty, the Gurkha recruitment had not been practically implemented in a formal way. Some Nepalese had joined the British army, but that was only on individual basis and it was not in a formal and legal way. The British wanted to set up a permanent Gurkha recruitment camp in Nepal, but Jung Bahadur refused it. Instead Jung Bahadur issued a secret circular to all concerned government agencies to discourage the recruitment in the British army. In the circular, Jung Bahadur stated that if anyone joined the British army, his property would be confiscated.

Jung Bahadur died in 1877 and his brother Ranodip Singh Rana became new prime minister. Ranodip gave continuity to Jung Bahadur's foreign policy, but his tenure was short-lived. After Jung Bahadur's death, conspiracy and ugly power struggle among different groups within the Rana clan started and intensified. Prime Minister Ranodip Singh Rana was assassinated by his own nephews in 1885 following which Bir Sumsher Rana took over power. As he came to power by killing his own uncle, Bir Sumsher felt threat more from within the Rana family members than from outsiders. Bir Sumsher, thus, became even more apologetic to the British and made every effort to seek British support for the security of his regime. Bir Sumsher, then, formally and practically implemented the Gurkha recruitment in 1885 to gratify the British more Other Rana rulers followed Bir Sumsher's footprints in foreign policy.

Prime Minister Chandra Sumsher Rana went even one step forward to appease the British. He helped the British mission to Tibet led by colonel Younghusband in 1903. In addition, Chandra Sumsher sent Nepalese troops in support of Britain during the World War I. In response to Nepal's support in the war, British provided Nepal some monetary support. Similarly, Nepal and Britain signed a new treaty in 1923 replacing the Sugauli Treaty.

Most of the provisions of the 1923 treaty were repetition of the Sugauli Treaty. But it was better than the old treaty because the Sugauli Treaty was virtually imposed by the British, while the new treaty was concluded between the two independent countries. Under the new treaty, the diplomatic level between Nepal and Britain was raised as the British representative in Nepal was elevated from the Resident to the Envoy. Similarly, Nepal established a legation in England and a Consul General in New Delhi.

India attained independence from the British rule in 1947. Inspired by India's independence, pro-democracy uprising was slowly brewing in Nepal. The Rana rulers, who had felt safe under British protection, suddenly felt insecure after British left India. The Ranas also became suspicious that independent India may depart from British policy on Nepal. The new Indian dispensation was definitely more sympathetic towards the anti-Rana forces. In a bid to get continued support to his regime, Rana Prime Minister Mohan Sumsher on the one hand tried to appease independent India to get continued support from New Delhi even after the withdrawal of the British, and he, at the same time, tried to reach out to other countries in the world instead of solely relying on India. It is against this background Nepal and the United States of America signed an Agreement of Friendship and established diplomatic relations on April 25, 1947.

Prime Minister Mohan Sumsher, in a key policy statement on foreign policy of Nepal, in May 1948 tried to give a message to India that Nepal was not departing from its long-held policy towards India and, at the same time, made it clear that Nepal would start diversifying its diplomatic relations. In the statement, according to Leo Rose in his book ' Nepal Strategy for Survival', Mohan Sumsher said: "Our relations with India, a big country which has emerged through independence, should be neighbourly and will be like between two sisters. Such a pure and friendly relationship had existed, and it will always be our effort to strengthen it and make it happy".

 Also expressing the desire for diversification of Nepal's foreign policy and diplomacy, Mohan Sumsher said, "In the present times, it is neither possible nor desirable for any state to keep itself in isolation from the world affairs. It shall be our policy therefore to enter into diplomatic relations with all such countries that seek our friendship. It is evident that we shall require much help and cooperation from abroad in our nation-building project. We hope we shall obtain such needful assistance and cooperation from our neighbouring and friendly countries". Mohan Sumsher's statement is evident of Nepal's effort to diversify its diplomatic relations during the later period of the Rana rule.

Nepal established diplomatic relations with France in 1949, which is yet another step towards the diversification of diplomatic relations. Similarly, a mission was sent to Beijing to bring the relations back to normal and establish formal diplomatic relations with China. However, the Chinese government was preoccupied with its own internal problems and did not respond promptly and positively.

1950 Treaty

When Nepal was slowly trying to come out of diplomatic isolation, Indian establishment proposed a new treaty in 1950 with Rana government. Rana Prime Minister Mohan Sumsher, too, accepted the Indian proposal because he wanted to ensure longevity of his regime with Indian support. Thus, Nepal quickly accepted India's proposal. Nepal and India signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship on 31 July 1950. This is a new treaty between Nepal and independent India, but in essence it is the continuation of the Sugauli Treaty and the 1923 treaty.

Rana Prime Minister Mohan Sumsher signed the 1950 treaty in the hope of getting Indian support for his regime. However, it did not happen because democratic India sided with the democratic forces rather than supporting the Rana's oligarchy. Thus, Rana regime collapsed in 1951.  But it was strange why independent India hastened to sign the treaty with the regime that was on the verge of collapse as pro-democracy movement was picking up momentum. India could have waited till the formation of a democratic government in Nepal.