No. 12
Chin- Lushai Conference
No. 2
Fort William, the 29th January 1892
At the final meeting of the Chin-Lushai Conference held at Fort William, on 29th January 1892.


PRESENT

The Hon'ble Sir Charles Alfred Elliott, K.C.S.I. Lieutenant Governor of Bengal.
His Excellency Lieutenant General the Hon'ble Sir J.C. Dormer K.C.B., Commander-in-Chief, Madras
Sir Alexander Mackenzie, K.C.S.I., Chief Commissioner of Burma.
W.E. Ward Esq, C.S.L, Chief Commissioner of Assam
Sir Henry Mortimar Durand, K.C.S.L, C.S.L, Secretary to the Government of India, Foreign Department.
Major General E. H. H. Collen, C.LE, Secretary to the Government of India, Military Department.
Major-General Sir James Browne, K.C.S.I, C.B., R.E, Quarter Master General in India.


The following Resolutions were passed:

1. The majority of the Conference are of the opinion that it is very desirable that the whole tract of country known as the Chin Lushai should be brought under one administrative head as soon as can be done. They also consider it advisable that eh new administration should be subordinate to the Chief Commissioner of Assam. Sir Dormer and Sir Alexander Mackenzie would defer any final decision as regards the eastern part of the tract till further information is obtained.

2. The conference is not prepared to assert that this step can be taken immediately. As matters now stand, the difficulties of communication, of supplies, and of transport are very serious, and it would in any case be necessary to suspend action until after the close of the present cold season's operations in the Chin and Lushai Hills.

3. The first thing to be done for the control of this tract is to improve the communications between the important places such as Cachar and Aijal, Aijal and Lunglei, Aijal and Manipur, and post situated respectively on the eastern and western side of the tract. The opening out these lines is a work of pressing importance. The commissariat staff should also be provided to arrange for transport and supplies, till the tract is able to provide them for itself.

4. The conference is of opinion that the boundaries of the new administrative area should be generally speaking the boundaries of the tract occupied by the savages newly brought under British control, but the details of these boundaries can only be settled after consultation with local officers.

5. The conference is agreed that North and South Lushai, with such portion of the Arracan Hill tracts as may here after be determined, should be placed under Assam at once on condition that -

  (1) Complete transport and commissariat equipment for supplies from Chittagong to South Lushai, and from Cachar to North Lushai, are provided.
  (2) Funds are granted for road and telegraph from Aijal to Lunglei.

(Signed)    -C.A. Elliot
  ( " )        - J.C. DORMER, Lieut. Gen.
  ( " )        - A MACKENZIE
  ( " )        - W.E. WARD
  ( " )        - H.M. DURAND
  ( " )        - E.H.H. COLLEN Maj. Gen.
  ( " )        - JAMES BROWNE, Maj. Gen.