Lord Lawrence still endeavoured to maintain our relations with that country upon the basis laid down in 1858. Both the claimants to the succession asked for the recognition of the British Government. Lord Lawrence expressed his willingness to recognise either of them who should succeed in establishing a _de facto_ Government. 'My friend,' he wrote to Afzul Khan, when he had obtained a footing in Kabul, 'the relations of this Government are with the actual Rulers of Afghanistan. If your Highness is able to consolidate your power in Kabul, and is sincerely desirous of being a friend and ally of the British Government, I shall be ready to accept your Highness as such.' The Afghans retorted that this policy was a direct premium upon successful revolt, and tended to render the establishment of any stable government in Afghanistan impossible. It amounted, in their view, to a declaration that the British Government, while anxious to obtain the support of the Afghan Ruler, was willing to turn against that Ruler the moment that a rebel made head against him, and to transfer its friendship to the rebel Chief. 'It is difficult,' said the indignant Afghans, 'for any nation to get on with the English. The meaning of this letter would {122} appear to be that the English desire that our family shall exterminate one another.... Without doubt they will have written the same to Sher Ali.' Lord Lawrence did not shrink from accepting this situation. As a matter of fact, he was not only willing to recognise any successful claimant to the sovereignty of Afghanistan; he was also willing to extend that recognition to even a partially successful claimant, to the extent which such a claimant might have succeeded in dismembering the country. 'So long,' Lord Lawrence distinctly declared to Afzul Khan, 'as Amir Sher Ali holds Herat and maintains friendship with the British Government, I shall recognise him as Ruler of Herat, and shall reciprocate his amity. But, upon the same principle, I am prepared to recognise your Highness as Amir of Kabul and Kandahar, and I frankly offer your Highness in that capacity the peace and goodwill of the British Government.' This policy, instead of making allies of the two claimants, excited the wrath of both. Sher Ali, on hearing of the above declaration, exclaimed, 'The English look to nothing but their own interests, and bide their time. Whosoever's side they see the strongest for the time, they turn to him as their friend. I will not waste precious life in entertaining false hopes from the English, and will enter into friendship with other Governments.'