PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE
Reference :-
TILIC.O. 882
6 PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON
ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH—NOT TO
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the older classes of Colonists, enumerated by Sir Hubert; all these agencies seem to me to point to the conclusion that if Mauritius is to become de facto an Indian depend- ency, it will be an Indian dependency on whose loyalty to British rule Her Majesty's Government will be able to rely with absolute confidence. It is, indeed, inconceivable to me that such a dependency would not be prepared to resist its transfer to any foreign rule whatever."
36. I avail myself of this opportunity to add that, in my opinion, there can be no better security for the loyalty of the Indian population than the presence of a regiment of the class of the 1st Bengal Infantry. Their high caste secures for them the admira- tion and respect of the Indians, while their admirable discipline, distinguished bearing, and the courtesy of their manner have gained for them a position in the consideration of the general community that can hardly fail to be a source of strength and security to the Government, whether in peace or in war.
37. I have thought it opportune to submit to you these considerations, with especial reference to the expression of loyalty to Her Majesty's person and Imperial Throne contained in the resolution passed by the Council of Government on the 14th November last. My opinions are based on an intimate knowledge of the various elements of this complex community, extending over a period of over thirty years, and, I believe that they justified me in urging, as I have already informed you, the intro- duction of the resolution, and in subsequently assuring you that, in my opinion, the resolution represents the genuine sentiments of an immense majority of the com- munity.
38. In listening to Mr. Leclézio's speech on the resolution, I could not help being reminded of the assurance of loyalty given to Sir Alfred Milner at Graaff Reinet. It seemed to me almost irrelevant to the occasion to appeal to former expressions of loyalty, the Queen's Jubilee, a vote for the defences of the Colony granted some years ago, and even to a general recognition of the benefits of British rule so long as that recognition ostentatiously stopped short of any assurance of sympathy with the Imperial Policy in South Africa, and of any assurance that British rule would be up- held at any sacrifice and against all comers.
39. The party of the "Cernéen," warmly approved the limitations of Mr. Leclézio's speech, as you will the more readily understand since I have explained to you his frank admission of the limitation of his sentiments of loyalty. I believe, how- ever, that the larger sympathy with British rule, expressed by Sir Virgile Naz in his speech, represented the genuine sympathy of the great mass of the community.
Thave, &c.,
Enclosure 1 in No. 1.
Sir C. ANTELME's reply to Mr. HAREL.
CHAS. BRUCE,
Governor.
MON CHER HAREL,
Ile Maurice, 23 Mars, 1899. J'ai reçu votre lettre du mois de Février ainsi que la thèse de votre fils Pierre.
Il l'a bien Je vous félicite du succès obtenu par votre fils à l'Ecole de Droit. mérité.
J'ai lu aussi dans le "Cornéen" la lettre ouverte que vous m'avez addressée. Je vous remercie ainsi que votre fils de tout ce que vous avez écrit de flatteur pour moi.
Je ne demanderais pas mieux que de me mettre à la tête d'un mouvenient en faveur de la langue française, si j'en avais la force, mais cela ne m'est plus possible. Je ne serais pas capable, à l'heure qu'il est, de parler pendant cinq minutes devant une assemblée. Pour vous donner une idée de l'état dans lequel l'âge m'a mis, je vous dirai qu'étant allé en ville pour mes affaires, il y a un mois, j'ai eu trois faiblesses, et que mes fils ont été obligés de me faire conduire chez moi à la campagne par un médecin.
Je vis retiré à la campagne, me contentant pour tout exercice d'une petite pro- menade de matin et le soir dans mes allées, pendant laquelle je suis accompagné par un indien qui me fait asseoir de temps en temps sur une chaise.
Pour mener une campagne comme celle dont vous parlez, il faudrait un homme june et fort. La lutte à soutenir serait plus rude que vous ne pensez. Les opinions sont bien divisées sur la question. L'élément française de notre population ne forme
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plus qu'une faible minorité-cinq ou six mille âmes-au milieu de cent mille hommes de couleur, et de deux cent mille indiens aux quels la question de langue est parfaite- ment indifférente. Les Créoles d'origine française euxmêmes, surtout les membres du barreau, sont divisées. Pour rallier tout ce monde, et les amener à faire la mani- festation que vous suggérez, il faudrait, je vous le répète, un homme jeune, éloquent et plein d'énergie.
Je dois vous dire aussi que tout ce qui se passe en France depuis la révolution du 4 Septembre, a beaucoup diminué sa popularité dans la colonie, et il y a parmi nous, beaucoup d'hommes sensés qui hésiteraient à donner la main en ce moment à un acte pouvant être mal interprété par le peuple anglais.
Adieu.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
C. ANTELME.
Extract from Sir WILLIAM STEVENSON's letter to the DUKE or Newcastle, dated 4th February, 1860.
"I had given much attention to the subject of a Militia, a Volunteer Corps, to aid in the internal defence of the Colony in case of necessity, before your Grace's note asked my opinion on the subject; but the more I considered it, the more assured I felt that no Volunteer Corps of sufficient strength and reliable efficiency could be raised here, for active service against the only enemy whose incursions they would be at all likely to have occasion to repel, i.e., the French.
The official ranks are very thin: the subordinate ranks in many instances are thoroughly French in custom, feeling and family associations: the general inhabitants are still more so: the black and coloured classes are too apathetic and too uncertain to be relied on for any emergency: and for anything but an emergency we have no occasion for their services.
If the Creoles of Mauritius-chiefly consisting as they do of coloured people- could be made to appreciate liberal institutions and popular power for the purpose of Government and legislation, and could be made to attribute the freedom and liberty iney enjoy, and all that may hereafter be added to their constitution, to the advan- tages of living under a British Government-similar to which no other in the world is to be found; if they could be safely instructed in the art of self-reliance, and taught to believe that the legislation and Government of the Colony, and the prosperity, defence and happiness of the people rested chiefly with themselves if they could believe that on them would rest the obligation of supporting and defending Mauritius against all the world-not as mere British subjects struggling against French or other foreign aggression-but as Creoles of Mauritius defending their own country, pro- perty and possessions, then I think that their "amour propre" would give them a feel- ing of pride at being regarded as its guardians and protectors, satisfied with the British protection they enjoy, and assured that neither France nor any other country that might acquire dominion here, would ever give them or allow them to retain, the same freedom, privileges and power. But I fear that this feeling has not yet been instilled into the Mauritian mind, and that it will still be some time before it can become part and parcel of the Mauritian character. I am, however, watching the progress of the people in this respect, and trying to improve the liberal spirit of the Creole element of the population, with the view of making them more self-reliant upon all occasions, even on the emergency of an invasion, and, therefore, more reliable in the service of the Crown in,holding and defending the possession of their little Colony and the dominion of the Crown against the aggressions of all the world."
1065
(Secret.)
No. 2.
MR. CHAMBERLAIN to GOVERNOR SIR C. BRUCE.
[Answered by No. 3.]
SIR,
Downing Street, February 28, 1900. I HAVE read with much interest your secret despatch of the 7th of December last, on the subject of the loyalty of the inhabitants of Mauritius to British Rule.
2. In view of the generally accepted fact that the French inhabitants of Maurit- ius must be regarded as less loyal than the Indian inhabitants, I am of opinion that it
• No. 1.
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