State and Government in Ancient India c13.88

c13.88

The evidence of the Buddhist literature shows that the Central Assemblies of the republics controlled foreign affairs, entertained ambassadors and foreign princes, considered their proposals and decided the momentous issues of peace and war.⁴ On grave occasions the latter power was entrusted to a smaller body; the 150 'ambassadors' deputed by the Kshudrakas to Alexander the Great, were obviously the leading members of their Central Assembly; they had been entrusted with full powers to conclude the treaty.¹ Some writers were of the opinion that it is in the interest of the *gaṇas* themselves that they should not discuss delicate questions like peace and war in the General Assembly, but should leave them to the decision of the Executive.² It is quite possible that this policy might have been followed in some states in order to ensure secrecy, so necessary for the success in foreign policy. But their number was not large, for one of the weaknesses of the Gaṇa state frequently emphasised by constitutional writers is its incapacity to preserve political secrets.