Nepal–Britain Treaty of 1923

Nepal-Britain Treaty of 1923

Nepal-Britain Mutual Treaty of 1923
Signed	21 December 1923 (Paush 6, 1980 B.S.)
Location	Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal
Effective	21 December 1923
Condition	Declaration of Nepal as an independent and sovereign state.
Expiration	31 July 1950
Signatories	Nepal  British Empire
Languages	Nepali, English

The Nepal–Britain Treaty of 1923 is considered to be one of the most important treaties in the History of Nepal. The treaty was first discussed in 1921 and the final treaty was signed in 1923 December 21 in Singha Durbar. The treaty was the first to define the international status of Nepal as an independent and a sovereign country and is considered to be “A great achievement of 25 years of Chandra Shumsher's diplomacy”. The treaty was recorded in 1925 in the League of Nations.

At the time when Prithivi Narayan Shah succeeded to the throne of Gorkha after the death of his father Nara Bhupal Shah in 1743(1799 BS), Nepal was divided into more than 50 small principalities. Prithivi Narayan Shah and his successors expanded the territory of the small state of Gorkha into a large kingdom. At its peak, during the time of Prime Minister Bhimsen Thapa, in 1810, the territory of Nepal extended from Sutlej River in the west to Tista River in the east. However, the country of Nepal and its existence was still a mystery in many of the European countries.

The Sugauli Treaty of 1816 had rendered moot the degree of independence of Nepal. The sixth, seventh and eighth point of the treaty were:

6) The king of Nepal engages never to molest or disturb the king of Sikkim in the possession of his territories. If any difference shall arise between Nepal and Sikkim, it shall be referred to the arbitration of the East India Company.

7) The king of Nepal hereby engages never to take or retain in his service any British subject, nor the subject of any European or American State, without the consent of the British Government.

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