Regarding the 'Subsidiary Alliance' system introduced by Lord Wellesley (1798–1805), which of the following statements is INCORRE…

Question

Regarding the 'Subsidiary Alliance' system introduced by Lord Wellesley (1798–1805), which of the following statements is INCORRECT?

1. A. The ruler was free to employ any European (French, Portuguese, etc.) as long as they were not in active conflict with the British. (Correct answer)
2. B. If the ruler failed to make payments for the maintenance of the British force, a portion of his territory was ceded as a penalty.
3. C. The British promised not to interfere in the internal administrative affairs of the allied state.
4. D. The Indian ruler was required to disband his own military and maintain a permanent British contingent within his territory.

Correct Answer

Option A — The ruler was free to employ any European (French, Portuguese, etc.) as long as they were not in active conflict with the British.

Detailed Solution & Explanation

The correct answer is The ruler was free to employ any European.

Key Points

• The question asks for the incorrect statement, and this is it. Under the Subsidiary Alliance, an Indian ruler was expressly forbidden from employing Europeans without British approval — the clause was designed to exclude French and other rival influence.
• The other statements accurately describe the system: territory was ceded on failure to pay, the British undertook not to interfere in internal affairs, and the ruler had to maintain British troops.

Additional Information

• Introduced by Lord Wellesley (1798-1805), the alliance required a ruler to accept British forces stationed in his territory and to pay for their upkeep, ceding land when payment failed.
• The ruler also had to accept a British Resident at court and could not negotiate with any other power without British consent.
• Hyderabad was the first state to accept it, in 1798, followed by Mysore, Tanjore, Awadh, the Marathas (Peshwa), Scindia and others.
• The system left rulers nominally sovereign while removing defence and foreign policy — a decisive step in British expansion, later complemented by Dalhousie's Doctrine of Lapse.