ABSTRACT
The establishment of the Chamber of Princes represented a triumph for the eloquence and persistence of a select band of rulers of medium-sized states. Princes like Alwar, Bikaner and Patiala were now beginning to reap the full benefit from the freedom which Butler’s policy of non-interference had intended for the rulers as a whole. A reversal of roles had in fact taken place: whereas in the time of Curzon political officers had resorted to every conceivable means of petty interference to emphasize their commanding position over the rulers and their states. ‘A policy of non-interference may lessen temporarily the work of political officers but, on the other hand, the withdrawal of the personal influence of the political officer and the trend of political affairs in British India, are likely to enhance the administrative difficulties of the Darbars and consequently to multiply the occasions on which they will need the advice and assistance of the political officer’.
