PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
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TELEC.O. 882
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
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it due to the people to give them some visible indication that the authority of the law and Legislature is, in the last resort, supported by force.
11. I have explained my views and intentions to the Executive Council.
To the
I have, &c.,
GRAHAM BOWER,
3113
123
No. 99.
THE ACTING GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Confidential.)
Officer Administering the Government.
MY LORD,
Enclosure 1 in No 98.
HONOURABLE COLONIAL SECRETARY, REGARDING the arrest of Dr. Guibert and Mr. Mérandon and eleven others. I beg to report as follows:-
Inspector Foster on arriving in Theatre Square at about 10 a.m. yesterday for duty at the unveiling of the statue of the late Sir John Pope-Hennessy noticed a commotion in the upstairs room of Roberts's Restaurant at corners of Theatre Square and Remy Ollier Street.
It appeared to him as if speeches were being delivered there was cheering at intervals, and shouting, and occasionally a whistle was blown. He noticed Dr Guibert, Mr Mérandon, and others whom he does not know, at the windows of the restaurant.
Mr. Roberts, the proprietor of the hotel, was requested by him to maintain a He said he would see about it, but the cheer little more order in his establishment. ing, &c., continued. The inauguration was begun by a speech by Dr. Laurent, which was interrupted by the disorder coming from the hotel.
Inspector Foster heard someone shout "A has Graham Bower" from the window of the hotel, and soon afterwards Dr. Guibert, Mr. Mérandon, and several others came out of the Hotel. On arriving near the enclosure, they began shouting The Inspector remonstrated with "Long live England," or "Long live the King." them, they replied that the expressions they had made use of were loyal.
They then, with their followers, pushed their way into the crowd and began distributing handbills* (two annexed).
A few moments afterwards the Inspector saw the crowd surging, and on going arrested to see what was the matter, saw Sergeant Major Coombes had Mr. Mérandon, who was struggling violently.
Inspector Foster lent a hand, and then several constables came up and assisted the Sergeant-Major and took Mr. Mérandon to the Central Police. Dr. Guibert and his friends attempted to rescue Mr. Mérandon, consequently they were arrested.
On the way to the police station, Mr. Mérandon kicked Sub-Inspector Speville
on the chest, and on entering the police yard, Mr. Mérandon swore at the Sergeant- Major and deliberately kicked him in the testicles.
Mr. Mérandon also kicked Police Constable Jenkins in the testicles whilst being escorted to Central Police.
It
appears
that Dr. Guibert and Mr. Mérandon had invited their followers to breakfast at Roberts's Hotel, with the express purpose of making disorder, and they all seemed to be more or less under the influence of liquor.
During the day an information on a charge of breach of Article 125 of Ordin- ance 23 of 1888 was lodged in order that the parties should furnish security for their good behaviour; this so far they have declined to do.
The arrest of Mr. R. Mérandon was ordered by Municipal Councillor Desresnay on account of the disturbance he was creating, which interrupted the ceremony of the unveiling of the statue.
Things are now quiet, although there are a lot of people about the streets. have no grounds for suspecting further trouble, at any rate for the present.
A. GOOLD,
Inspector-General of Police.
23 December, 1908.
• Not reprinted.
I
(Received 27 January, 1909.)
[Acknowledged 8 February, 1909. Confidential.]
Government House, Le Réduit, 24th December, 1908. WITH reference to my despatch, No. 368, of to-day's date.* I have the honour to enclose, for your information copies of notes exchanged between Mr. Leclézio, the member for Moka, and myself.
2. I may add that I believe Mr. Leclézio to be perfectly correct in his informa- tion that the majority of his electors do not share the views of the organizers of the meeting
3. The movement is, so far as I have been able to observe it, mainly a move- ment organized by the leaders of the "democracy," ie., of the section of the popula- tion which has a fraction, however small, of coloured blood in their veins. It is true that some of the leaders, such as Mr. Mérandon, Mr. Nairac, and Dr. Guibert, pure white descent, but the "aristocracy" regard them as having been false to their caste.
4.
are of
The feature of the agitation which I consider to be dangerous is the effort made to embroil the Indian population in the quarrels of Creoles.
5. If this continues I fear that it may ultimately be necessary to return to the nominee system for the Legislative Council, with such modifications, either by secondary election or otherwise, as may be possible to prevent the formation of a Camarilla round the Governor.
6. For I regard it as impossible to form an electorate out of such discordant elements as Creoles, Indians, and Chinese, the bulk of whom cannot even read such newspapers as Mauritius produces for the instruction and guidance of public opinion
I have, &c.,
GRAHAM BOWER,, Officer Administering the Government.
Enclosure 1 in No. 99.
DEAR SIR GRAHAM BOWER,
Port Louis, 23rd December, 1908. WHILE you are reporting to the Secretary of State the visit of Dr. Laurent and others to Réduit on Sunday last, will you be so kind as to take measures to ascertain whether it was correct to say that the resolution which was presented to you was voted by the electors of Moka as stated therein. This would imply at least a majority of the electors. I am, however, informed that most of my electors, if not all, did not share the views of those gentlemen, and consequently abstained from going to the meeting. I should like the Secretary of State to know this.
Enclosure 2 in No. 99.
Believe me, &c.,
H. LECLÉZIO.
·
DEAR MR. LECLÉZIO,
Government House, Mauritius, 24th December, 1908.
I HAVE received your note of the 23rd instant, and I may inform you that your request has been anticipated. You will recollect that I told you and the members of the Executive Council on Tuesday last that I intended calling for the police reports of the meeting at Moka. These reports have now been received," and will be forwarded with my despatch to the Secretary of State.
Believe me, &c.,
GRAHAM BOWER.
1917
* No. 97.