CO882-10 — Page 175

175

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

ICO. 882/10

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC- COPYRIGHT PHOTOGRAPH-NOT TO

332

Witness: I glanced through them. I cannot say I read them.

Mr. Norton: Then I understand after you took this mental note you went and saw and did other things? Then you returned to the Crystal Palace?

Witness: In consequence of what I heard I returned at 2 o'clock, and there was looting still going on.

Mr. Norton When were you asked whether you could fix any hour or time in reference to the Crystal Palace?

Witness: Not until to-day. I knew absolutely nothing about the evidence I was going to give. I was asked what time I had passed the Crytal Palace by the police this morning. That is the only question they put to me. I recollected the hour.

Mr. Norton: Was any suggestion made to you as to what hour you had passed? Witness: None whatever.

(To the Court.) I went down to the Pettah between 9.0 and 9.30, through various streets, up and down. I went practically through every street in the

Pettah.

Leopold Alfred Hayter, European Police Sergeant, sworn.

(To the Court) I can remember the rioting at the beginning of June. I remember the 1st of June. I was on mounted patrol duty. That morning I left the police headquarters at about 8.0, and took my horse, with two other men, and went to the Pettah and patrolled the whole of that district until about a quarter to eleven. I do not remember the exact time. About that time I returned to the Fort Police Station. During that time I patrolled Keyser Street, Main Street, Bankshall Street, in fact, the whole district where rioting was going on. I passed up and down Keyser Street several times. The last time, as far as I remember, would be about twenty minutes to eleven. There was nothing going on. The people were excited. There were people about, but there was no looting or anything of that sort going on when I was in the streets. I did not notice any big shops broken. I did not notice it particularly. There was nothing to attract my attention.

Mr. Norton: How did you fix the time when you were in Keyser Street last! Witness: When I returned to the Fort Police Station I met another European sergeant who had to be at the Joint Police Court at 11.0. He was just going to the Joint Police Court. That is how I fixed that it would be about a quarter to eleven. when I returned. I did not fix the time by reference to any actual clock or watch. rode up and down Keyser Street several times. I do not profess to know the number of times I patrolled the place. There had been riots in Main Street. There was trouble round the immediate district, more or less. The man who had to be in Court at 11.0 was European Sergeant Gibson. He had a case at the Joint Police Court, which is distant not more than ten minutes' walk from the Fort Police Station. I have no note of the time I made these various patrols. It was not part of my ordinary duty.

Mr. Norton: When you were going down Keyser Street did you notice many stones on the road?

Witness: My recollections are rather hazy, but I seem to remember seeing a few stones and bottles, but they were in all streets, so that I am not quite sure.

(To the Court.) My horse was struck several times in Main Street.

Colombo, 18th October, 1915.

SIR,

Certified true copy.

L. A. NORTHCOTE, Captain,

D.A.A.G., Ceylon Command.

The Queen's House, Colombo, 16th August, 1915. In reply to your letter of 5th August last, forwarding copy of field general court martial proceedings in the case of Edmund Hewawitarne, I have the honour to inform you that I approve the sentence of penal servitude passed or Edmund Hewawitarne and confirmed by you on 27th July last.

I am, &c.,

The Brigadier-General

The Honourable

Commanding the Troops, Ceylon.

ROBERT CHALMERS,

Governor.

54046

Sin,

333

No. 69.

MR. A. MAJID to COLONIAL OFFICE.

(Received 23rd November, 1915.)

[Copy to Governor, 8th December, 1915. No. 712.

[Answered by No. 73.]

L.F.]

121, Coningham Road, W., 22nd November, 1915. WE are very grateful to you and the Ceylon Government for the support which has been legitimately rendered to the Moslem minority of the island of Ceylon for the wanton damage done to their honour, lives, and property.

Of late it has come to our knowledge that endeavours are being made in certain quarters to avoid paying just compensation to the sufferers. Certain pamphlets have been issued, and one-sided statements made therein, with a view to bring about a decision in favour of those whose duty it is to compensate the oppressed. We also learn that a certain member of the Ceylon Legislative Council, a lawyer by profession and a Hindu by religion, is coming to England for the express purpose of agitating against the rights of the Moslems, who have avowedly been made victims of outrages which would shame even those outside the pale of civilization and law. We there-

fore beg leave to place before you certain matters of which we have recently been informed.

2. As far back as 4th August, 1915, we were, by a letter dated 12th July, 1915, informed by a most responsible Moslem leader of the island that the riot was of an unusually grave and premeditated character. He says: "Fortunately, by the grace of God, things seem to have been begun prematurely, owing to which the Moslems are still alive. Stern measures have now been initiated by the Governor. The Govern ment are doing all that is in their power to do. For three days the Moslem com- munity suffered in many places, hiding in the jungles while the Sinhalese thirsted for their blood. A large proportion of the mosques scattered about were either damaged or altogether wrecked by fire and dynamite. Those that escaped were saved by the courage and self-sacrifice of the Moslem defenders and by the timely inter- vention of the planters and Government servants. A large number of shops and boutiques were looted. Those in Main Street, Colombo, and a few in the principal provincial towns escaped. About the cases of murder, arson, rape, etc., which were numerous, I need say no more than merely mention them. An estimate is being made of the damage, but the task will be a difficult one. This is the idea I formed after visiting the country; the ringleaders are being tried by court martial and severely dealt with."

3. The loyalty of the Moslems of Ceylon won them the charter, dated 2nd March, 1818, the privileges which they still enjoy. Their law-abiding character is still recognized, and they are regarded even to this day as most law-abiding population of the island.

4. The aforesaid statement, made before the official inquiry was completed. is amply substantiated by the learned Attorney-General of the island in his admir- able speech in the Ceylon Legislative Council (a copy of which is herewith enclosed)* on 30th September, 1915:-" He dwelt on the nature of the damage done in villages, not by detached bands of ruffians, but by a great part of the village population, who turned out en masse and attacked another section of the community, destroyed property, ruined their homes, blew up their religious shrines, and drove them into the jungle. Throughout the length and breadth of the area the bands marched about, having completed their work of destruction. They passed on to other districts and even to adjoining Provinces. While deploring the excesses committed, they must recognize what was done the work of the village population themselves. In that case they must consider the question of distribution of the responsibility."

5. Again, on 14th October, 1915, the learned Ceylon Attorney-General empha- sized the nature of the damages done. He said: "My mind went back to the remem- brance of what the Moorish men, women, and children suffered in those days at the end of May and of the beginning of June last. The situation we have had to deal with has not been so vigorously described by the honourable the Ceylonese member. It has been a grane and historic episode. At the last meeting of this Council I put before the honourable members a measure which was designed for the reparation of a great wrong which had been inflicted upon the members of one community of His Majesty's subjects domiciled amongst us."

• Not reprinted.

1