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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :--
FIL LITICO. 882/10
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC
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PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
29674
No. 8.
THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 5.45 p.m., 28th June, 1915.) TELEGRAM.
[Copy to War Office, 6th July, 1915. L.F.]
Replies to questions 1 to 6 are in the YOUR telegram of 19th June.* affirmative. As regards seventh question I agree to legislation suggested, but I am advised that proposed provision cannot be made retrospective.-Bonar Law.
29924/S
No. 9.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE.
(Received 29th June, 1915.) -
[Published, except portions in [] and enclosures here printed, as No. 3 in [Cd. 8187], January, 1916.]
(Confidential.)
*
The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 7th June, 1915.
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*
•
2. Adverting to the concluding paragraph (9) of my despatch of 1st June,§ I have to state that, on 2nd June I saw four Cingalese and four Mohammedans, and thereafter issued an announcement of which I enclose a copy. The Mohammedans were in a pitiable state of fear; the Cingalese expressed themselves ashamed of the excesses of mobs whom they were powerless to control, but who were filled with fears that the Buddhist Temple of the Tooth was to be sacked and that the Mohammedans were about to retaliate. Being pressed, the Cingalese admitted that these fears were groundless, and promised to dissipate them as far as possible. I declined to discuss any grievances, and declared my emphatic determination first to put down disorder and to punish those guilty. [Three out of the four Cingalese left in me a feeling of deep distrust, tempered by a feeling on their part that law and order would and could be re-established.]
*
+
4. Satisfied as I was (and am) that this was the proper course, on the morning of the 2nd instant I issued accordingly the Proclamation, drafted by the Attorney- General, of which I enclose a copy; later in the same day a similar Proclamation f for Sabaragamuwa. On the 3rd instant a precisely similar Proclamation was Issued by me for the Southern and North-Western Provinces, as also for the Central Province (in which the original outbreak had taken place). I annex copies of these Proclamations, together with a copy of correspondence with Brigadier-General Malcolm, C.B., D.S.O., on the subject of the force then garrisoning the Central Province. The result of the several Proclamations is that martial law is now in force in all provinces in which riots have occurred. Anuradhapura and Uva have so far remained quiet, as has the coast from Negombo to Puttalam (the latter a strong settlement of Moors).
•
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7. As soon as I felt that Kandy and the Central Province were being held I travelled by train to Colombo in the afternoon of the 3rd June without incident, and immediately on arrival had an interview here with General Malcolm on the situation. Our relations now, as always, are of the most cordial character. I need not repeat here what is set forth in his statement herewith. I told him that the chief reason why I had come down to Colombo was to support him in every way in the discharge of his responsibilities and by my presence to allay the feelings of vague alarm which I felt sure would pervade the mercantile community here. My anticipations were duly realized. Small mercantile deputations came to see me at intervals during the 4th instant, to whom I pointed out vigorously that in the crisis now passing their duty was to feel and diffuse confidence and to subordinate to
• No. 8. ↑ Ceylon Government Gazette of 2nd June, 1915: not reprinted. Ceylon Government Gazette of 8rd June, 1915: not reprinted. No. 2 in [Cd. 8167.]
5
public needs all thoughts of private interests for themselves or their employees in the Town Goard [Sir James Broom informed me later that the effect was excellent, and] the visible evidence of growing tranquillity soon closed the matter.
•
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11. Secondly, it is necessary to ensure food supplies where the normal channels have been destroyed for the moment by rioters. To this I have given my attention since my arrival in Colombo. The course I have adopted is to secure the transport of foodstuffs, not only within the municipality, where arrangements have already, been made by the Mayor of Colombo in concert with Mr. Bowes (the Principal Col- lector of Customs), but also outside Colombo and the Western Province. Evidence of need will be furnished by the several Government Agents of the affected provinces and approved by the Controller of Revenue, who will work with Mr. Bowes, in whose hands I have placed the organization of this precautionary measure of obviating the possible recrudescence of trouble through food riots. But my aim is to restore the Mohammedan trader to his former place, and every effort will be made to effect this by the quickest steps rendered practicable by the growing restoration of confidence. [Everything will be done to prevent the Cingalese shopkeeper from ousting his trade rivals.]
12. The third line of immediate action is to punish those Cingalese who are found guilty in connexion with the anti-Mohammedan riotings. This presumes investigation on the spot, which will take some little time in ascertaining facts from Mohammedans, Cingalese, and others with information available. cases are being dealt with summarily by magistrates. In due course I will inform The simpler you of the steps taken both to punish other offenders and to compensate Moham medans. [I may add that it was solely with a view to facilitating these investiga- tions simultaneously over a very extended field that I suggested (in my telegram of the 5th June*) the temporary addition of battalion from India. improving prospects of restoring order more speedily than at first seemed possible, The daily either to the Officer Commanding the Troops or myself, may perhaps yet make this step unnecessary, in which case I shall at once have telegraphed to you accordingly.]
I have, &c.,
ROBERT CHALMERS,
SIR,
Enclosure 4 in No. 9.
Governor, &c.
Colonial Secretary's Office, Colombo, 3rd June, 1915. I AM directed to forward for your information a copy of a minute by His Excellency the Governor, dated 3rd June, 1915, together with its enclosures, which please acknowledge.
The Honourable
The Brigadier-General Commanding the Troops.
I am, &c.,
E. B. DENHAM,
for Colonial Secretary.
FROM THE GOVERNOR to THE COLONIAL SECRETARY.
King's Pavilion, Kandy, 3rd June, 1915.
I
COLONIAL SECRETARY,
I HAVE received information that the Officer Commanding Troops has this morning given orders to withdraw from the Province of Kandy about 84 Punjabis. The information is detailed in the accompanying memorandum, which I asked for this morning from Captain Nugent, Officer Commanding Troops, Kandy. have communicated the above information to Mr. Vaughan, Government Agent, Central Province, and Mr. Tranchell, Superintendent of Police, Central Province, with the request that they will give me their opinion on the position. I give their opinion in the accompanying memorandum, also of to-day's date. their opinion is shared by Mr. Malcolm Stevenson, who is working Gampola and I know that Nawalapitiya districts. I desire that the above information be conveyed in writing in extenso forthwith to Brigadier-General Malcolm, with the expression of my strong personal conviction that, while it is possible, and indeed probable, that without withdrawal of troops the Kandy Province may be quieted down within the
* 26172, not printed.
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