The treaty of Bassein was concluded in 1802 between the British Company and the Peshwa Baji Rao II. It was a treaty of perpetual and general alliance with the English. Upon the whole then it was conclude to be a wise, just and a polite measure.
As per the treaty, Peshwa agreed to receive from the company a regular army to be stationed in his territories. Peshwa had to surrender territories yielding 26 lakhs of rupees apart from surrendering Surat. The Peshwa had to accept the company’s arbitration in all differences between him and the other powers.
The Peshwa also agreed neither to commence nor to pursue in fortune away negotiations with any power without getting previous notice and constitution with the East India Company. The Peshwa agreed to give up all claims for chauth on the Nizam’s dominions and also agreed not to resort to arms against the Gaikwars. He also agreed to the Company’s arbitration in all differences between him and the Nizams & the Gaikwars.
The importance of the Treaty of Bassein in the building up of British supremacy in India has been variously estimated. It is contended that the Treaty of Bassein established the paramount British influence at Poona. The head of the Maratha confederacy accepted the position of dependent relationship with the company.
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By providing for company’s mediation in all cases of disputes between the Peshwa & the Nizam, the British achieved another objective that the state of Hyderabad definitely passed under the company’s protection. By camping the company’s subsidiary troops at Poona the Company got a very advantageous position in case of war with the Marathas or any other rivals.
Thus, the Treaty of Bassein threw a new power into the weight of its own scale. A lawful right was established to interfere in Peshwa’s authority, the intrigues of foreigners were excluded from his capital, the British military resources were considerably increased without the expense to the company and the army of the Peshwa was bound at the call of the company. In this sense, the Treaty of Bassein for the British was a wise, just & a polite measure and it gave the company by its direct & indirect operations the Empire of India.