53
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
CO. 882/10
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC,
COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO
PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE. LONDON
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authorities would not use firearms on the mob, but the methods adopted at Kambu- rupitiya gave them a rough awakening, and proved more clearly than anything else could have done that in future rioting would be met with the utmost severity.
I am, &c.,
The Honourable the Colonial Secretary,
40184
40793
Colombo.
No. 42.
G. F. R. BROWNING,
Assistant Government Agent.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE, (Received 9.25 a.m., 31st August, 1915.) TELEGRAM.
[Copy to War Office, 2nd September, 1915. L.F.] [Published as appendix to No. 15 in [Cd. 8187], January, 1916.]
No. 43.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 3rd September, 1915.)
[Published, except portions in [ ], as No. 15 in [Cd. 8167], January, 1916.]
(No. 512.)
13.
The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 11th August, 1915.
*
*
Not only is there no evidence for imagining that Germans were at the bottom of the trouble, but the futile German intrigues in Ceylon have sought to excite disloyalty, not among the Sinhalese, but among the Mohammedans. These latter used to be the best customers of resident German traders here, and at the outbreak of war the liquidation, without financial panic, of their obligations to enemy subjects was a matter of graver concern to me than I could at the time prudently make known in this Island. [As you know, it was only to set troops free for other purposes than guarding prisoners of war that, after the overt disturbances had been quelled, I approached you with regard to the transfer elsewhere of the interned Germans-of whom about three hundred and forty (including all the Ceylon Germans) have already been escorted from these shores, and the remaining forty or fifty will follow as soon as opportunity offers. I have thought it well to state this explicitly here, although Ceylon itself has been astonishingly free from rumours of a German origin for these riots.]
40871
*
No. 44.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 3rd September, 1915.)
(Confidential (C).)
SIR,
The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 16th August, 1915. IN continuation of my Confidential despatch of the 5th August, I have the honour to forward, for your information, copies of the following local reports on the subject of the riots :---
(1) Diary of the Government Agent, Western Province, for June, 1915, in continuation of the extract sent with my Confidential despatch of the 16th July.
* No. 41.
89
(2) Diary of the Government Agent, Province of Uva, for June, 1915. (8) Diary of the Government Agent, Province of Sabaragamuwa for June, 1915.
(4) Report from the Government Agent, North-Western Province. (5) Report from Mr. C. H. Collins, Special Commissioner.
(6) Report from Mr. H. W. Codrington, Assistant Government Agent,
Puttalam and Chilaw, and Special Commissioner.
(7) Report from Mr. T. A. Hodson, Special Commissioner.
(8) A continuation report, dated the 8th August, from the Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General in this Command.
2. By this mail, under date the 11th instant, I have forwarded a general despatch on the riots, for publication (should you see fit), in accordance with your telegraphic request of 2nd July. With reference to paragraph 14 of that despatch, I will collect, as it becomes available, the information therein referred to, with a view to forwarding it to you in due course. I do not at present anticipate the neces- sity for sending further reports from local officers on the May-June rioting.
3. I enclose a copy of the Police Regulations in connexion with the Esala perahera at Kandy, which takes place from the 16th to the 29th August.
I have, &c.,
ROBERT CHALMERS.
Governor, &c.
Enclosure 1 in No. 44.
DIARY OF THE GOVERNMENT AGENT, WESTERN Province, June, 1915.
1ST JUNE. At 5.45 a.m. the telephone rang, and Mr. Wait, Mr. Brayne, and I 1. Riots. had to turn out. We were occupied all day and night till 2 a.m. with the riots.
2nd June. I urged on the Colonial Secretary the proclamation of martial law, Martial and sent out parties of Punjabis to Panadure and Negombo.
law.
3rd June. Started off on circuit with a guard of Punjabis in cars, my Assistants. Circuis Government Agent going out with a similar guard up to Walgama, whilst I went out to Hanwella. There I caught looters in the act and fired on them.
One was killed and two wounded and about fifteen captured.
etc.
4th June. Proceeded to Avisawella, visiting Waga and Puwakpitiya on the 4. Avisawella, way. Boutiques at the latter two places looted and a little damage done at Avisa- wella. Found large numbers of people on the road with weapons. They said they expected to be attacked by Moors marching from Dehiowita. This was false. disarmed a large number of them. I ran up to Dehiowita, disarming a good many people on the way. Dehiowita was quiet, and there was a Planters' Guard on duty. Whilst I was there dynamite cartridges were thrown into the mosque from the hill- side above, and its destruction completed. I returned to Avisawella, and hastened to Papiliawalà via Hanwella, as the Sub-Inspector of Police wired for me. Found the place had been looted on the 2nd. This is the Sub-Inspector who, with the Korale Muhandiram and the village tribunal President, decided to surrender four prisoners to the mob. They will have to be dealt with for this. All along the road the Moorish boutiques had been looted-a pitiful sight. Returning to Hanwella. I met Mr. Brayne leading out another party to Weke, after saving the Moors at Walgama
5th June. Returned to Hanwella and had some food. Was called up by wires. Ruanwella to Ruanwella. Went there and found all quiet. Back to Hanwella at 4 a.m. Started again at 11 a.m. and ran up past Padukka into Kalutara, and round and into Colombo District by Kahatuduwa, and on to Piliyandara, Moratuwa, and Colombo, getting home about 4 p.m.-dead tired.
6th June. Sunday.
7th June.-Busy arranging for issue of rice, should it be required. In after-a Special noon was informed that I was to be Special Commissioner for Western Province to Commie- inquire into the riots.
8th June. Busy making preparations and collecting staff.
sioner.
hala village.
9th June-At 7 a.m. started with thirty Punjabis and part of my staff; sur-7. Wanawa rounded Wanawahala village, and drove the males to the railway line and had their names checked against the Division Officer's list. There was a large number of men
* No. 15 in [Cd. 8107].
+ No. 10.