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risk. The arrest of so many of such workers (whether justified or not-I do not The raise that question at all) has deepened that impression into a conviction. inevitable result is the fear that temperance work is dangerous, and incalculable harm will be done to the cause of temperance in Ceylon unless the fear is removed. It is, in my judgment, of the utmost urgency that the Government should make perfectly clear, not in England so much as in Ceylon, that, whatever be the reason for the arrest of certain prominent Ceylonese gentlemen whose loyalty is, I believe, beyond question, it has nothing whatever to do with their temperance work or to their opposition to the Government's excise scheme. I am quite sure that such a pronouncement will remove the stigma of official reproach from temperance work, and the opportunity of making it should be welcomed by the Government, if only for the purpose of setting the minds of the people at rest on so important a point.
Yours, &c.,
W. J. NOBLE.
48307
(No. 631.)
48392
SIR,
No. 60.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 20th October, 1915.)
The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 28th September, 1915. [Published as No. 20 in [Cd. 8167], January, 1916.]
No. 61.
THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 20th October, 1915.)
(Confidential (A).)
The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 30th September, 1915. In continuation of my Confidential despatch (B) of the 22nd September,* I have the honour to forward, for your information, a copy of a report, with its annexures, on the riots in the Colombo District, from Mr. J. G. Fraser, C.M.G., Government Agent of the Western Province and Special Commissioner.
2. The Colombo District contains 20 per cent. of the entire population of the island, and 58 per cent. of the total estimated damage in the riots was caused in this district.
I have, &c.,
ROBERT CHALMERS,
Governor, &c.
Enclosure in No. 61.
REPORT.
A.-Scope of the Riots.
1. On the 31st May, at 4.0 p.m., Mr. Daniel, Superintendent of Police, Colombo, came to see me at the Kachcheri, and told me that there had been some trouble that forenoon between the railway mechanics and the Moormen of the boutiques opposite the entrance to the railway workshops, in the course of which stones had been thrown and some damage done to the shops. Mr. Daniel informed me that he apprehended further trouble when the railway employes left work in the afternoon, and asked me to call out the military. As I was not convinced of the immediate necessity of such a step, and as the time was also insufficient, I proceeded to the railway works at 4.45 p.m. and was present with the Atapattu Mudaliyar, Mr. Emanuel Jayawardena, Mr. Batuwantudawa, and Mr. T. B. Umbuchchi, when the workmen dispersed for the day. The demeanour of the railway men was trucu- lent, but we succeeded in sending them away without any disturbance occurring.
* No. 57.
2.
When I reached home at 6.0 p.m. I thought it advisable to warn the military that their assistance might be required.
3.
About 7.0 p.m. I heard that rioting had started in the Pettah, and I at once called out the military. I proceeded with the Police Magistrate, Mr. Wait, and my Assistant Government Agent, Mr. Brayne, to Pettah, and, finding the report of rioting to be exaggerated, I went on to Maradana and patrolled that neighbourhood and Borella in a motor-car. I found rioting taking place at Borella and the police quite unable to cope with it, and, indeed, as far as I could judge, sympathizing with it. The arrival of the military soon after enabled order to be restored, but the people were excited and groups were constantly reforming whenever they were dispersed. A considerable amount of stone-throwing was also indulged in. Towards midnight things became quieter, and about 2.0 a.m. I was able to go home, leaving the military at the police headquarters.
4. On the 1st June, at 5.45 a.m., I received a telephone message from the police that looting had started all over Colombo. I rang up the military, and then went with Messrs. Wait and Brayne and saw the General, and received a promise from him to send two parties of Punjabis. We then went on to the Pettah and found the crowds there threatening; rioting had already commenced at San Sebastian Hill. We tried to stop it and talked to the people, but they were wild at a false report that one of their pansalas had been destroyed by Moors and would not listen, and began to throw stones at us. We retired for the moment, but returned with the first party of Punjabis. The crowd gave way, but continued to throw stones; mixed with the crowd were people going to the Courts, women and children. As some of the rioters were still shouting out that the Kehelwatta pansala was being looted and the priests being beaten, we charged down a narrow street and ascertained that there was no truth in the statement. We returned to San Sebastian, informing the people of the truth, but the crowd was past reasoning with and shouted us down. We were, however, able to disperse the mob at this point.
In
5. Leaving Mr. Wait with this party of Punjabis I hurried to the Fiscal's office and telephoned for the second detachment. It took some time to arrive. the interval I picked up the Atapattu Mudaliyar, and went down towards Grand Pass to see how things were looking there. Large crowds had assembled, and, being anxious to prevent an attack on the Moorish quarter, I hastened back to the Fiscal's office, met the Punjabis, and posted them as a strong picket at the junction of Mes- senger Street and Armour Street under the command of Mr. Brayne. This effec- tively prevented the incursion of the large gang of rowdies from the Grand Pass side and the looting of the Moorish quarter. As soon as the Moors, who were then engaged in a fight with the Sinhalese, realized the dispositions taken for their safety they retired quietly into their houses.
6. I paid several visits to the Fiscal's office, and as troops arrived sent them out to the Victoria Bridge, Grand Pass, and Wolfendahl.
7. Later in the day I conferred with the Colonial Secretary and presided at a meeting at the Town Hall, when the pickets for the night were decided upon and the various police magistrates allotted to the firing parties.
8. Mr. Sueter proceeded to Armour Street to administer the oath to Mr. Brayne; and the latter had scarcely been sworn in when it became necessary to fire upon the rioters from the Grand Pass side who were endeavouring to break into the Moorish quarter by advancing along Layard's Broadway. were killed and two wounded-all of them genuine rioters.
Three men
9. The rest of the evening and night up to 2.0 a.m. I was at the Maradana police headquarters, and made arrangements with the General Officer Command- ing for a party of Punjabis to be sent to Panadura next morning.
10. By the morning of the 2nd June I had realized that nothing but the declaration of martial law would restore order. I accordingly saw the Colonial Secretary.
11. I assisted the General Officer Commanding the Troops in fixing the posi- tions to be occupied by the pickets composing the cordon to be drawn round Colombo. and I also obtained his sanction to the despatch of a body of Punjabis to Negombo, who I am glad to say arrived there in time to prevent any serious damage” being done to that important town.
12. As more troops were now available Mr. Brayne and I were able to start out on the 3rd June at midday to restore order in the Colombo District.