CO882-10 — Page 21

23

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE

Reference :-

C.O. 882/10

ALLY WITHOUT PERMISSION OF THE BE REPRODUCED PHOTOGRAPHIC

COPYRIGHT PHOTGRAPH-NOT TO

PUBLIC RECORD OFFICE, LONDON

29

go after searching and examining him. Were told mob had gone towards Gampola and followed, but lost touch of it after two miles; had probably dispersed in jungle. Returned to bungalow. All quiet.

31st May, Riot-Corlett telephoned in the morning that his Moormen labourers were being chased by the Ganoruwa villagers, who threatened to raid the station if shelter was given them. Women and children had taken refuge with him, but he considered it dangerous having no protection and being by himself. Told him to send them all to the Gardens at once, and Bryce, Parsons, and I went over with our Found Corlett with rifles to see they were not molested on their way to ferry. revolver on belt, at sight of which, he explained, all the villagers had run away. Refugees numbered twenty men, sixteen women, twenty children, total fifty-six. Sent them to Bryce and Parsons' bungalow to be under their protection and to stop in the garage. Bryce and Parsons subsequently ordered to Kandy (Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps), so moved refugees to my home, where they were joined by forty-eight more from Eriyagama.

Attorney-General and Mrs. Bertram arrived 6 p.m. Also Mr. Woodhouse, -District Judge, Kurunegala, to await Mr. Bertram. He had been ordered up to act as Special Magistrate. Mr. Bertram came through Gampola, which was wrecked. Proceeded with him to Kandy. First to Queen's, where explain to Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Dowbiggin, about my refugees. He promises four Punjabis as guard. To Government Agent's with Mr. Bertram, then back home. While at dinner, 9.30, the Excise Inspector (Ekanayake) and Public Works Department Inspector (Perera) arrive and say that they are informed we have a lot of Moor people here who they are afraid will come and assault them at Eriyagama. Explain that the Moors are here for protection, that a guard is coming, and that if either side tries to assault the other they will get their heads broken. At midnight the Inspector of Police, Mr. Tranchell, and Mr. Martin Smith to say they had brought four Ceylon Planters' Rifle Corps men (two of whom were Bryce and Parsons) instead of four Punjabis.

At 1 p.m. aroused by my appu, who says there is a row going on in the village. Two shots had been fired. Call the guard out, who proceed with three constables in my car to see what it is. They patrol half way to Gampola, then to Kadugannawa and to Gatembe Police Station. Return at 3 a.m.

All quiet.

33676

No. 24.

Tax GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 5.50 a.m., 22nd July, 1815.)

(Paraphrase.)

TELEGRAM.

22ND JULY.-With reference to your cipher telegram of 12th June, and to my cipher telegrams 14th July, 15th July, and 19th July,* one of the several cases hung up is that of Edmund Hewavitarane, who was convicted by court martial on the charge of treason and another charge to which he took no objection. Pending your assurance sentence not yet promulgated. Meanwhile, Cayley, solicitor, of 30, Bedford Row, London, has been given telegraphic instructions to apply to the Privy Council for special leave to appeal. I presume that you will take the neces- sary steps to oppose this application if the appeal is against the decision of the Supreme Court to which I referred in my telegram of 15th July † The basis of judgment was the proviso of Section 4, Ordinance No. 1 of 1889, and the fact that courts martial, if "held to be within the scope of that Ordinance, would be rendered nugatory.—Chalmers.

32454/S

No. 25.

COLONIAL OFFICE to WAR OFFICE.

Downing Street, 22nd July, 1915. [Published as No. 7 in [Cd. 8167], January, 1916.]

34162

SIR,

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No. 26.

WAR OFFICE to COLONIAL OFFICE. (Received 24th July, 1915.)

War Office, London, S.W., 23rd July, 1915. I AM commanded to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 20th instant, No. 33162/1915,* regarding certain trials in connexion with the disturbances in Ceylon, and to acquaint you, for the information of Mr. Secretary Bonar Law, that the Army Council concur in the views expressed in that letter.

34162

No. 27.

I am, &c.,

B. B. CUBITT.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE to THE GOVERNOR. (Sent 3 p.m., 24th July, 1915.) TELEGRAM.

[Copy to War Office, 27th July, 1915. L.F.]

YOUR telegram of 19th July,† in cipher. Trials may continue. As to points raised in your telegram 14th July, I am advised that camp followers are only allowed to accompany troops by special permit of Commanding Officer; they there- fore become part of the force which they accompany, and are expressly within Section 189. Also Section 176, paragraph 1, and Sub-section 10, assimilates position of camp followers to that of soldiers. Word "soldiers" here must mean members of His Majesty's forces," definition in Section 190 (6) being inconsistent with context. Effect of Section 176 (10), therefore, is to assimilate position of camp followers to that of troops accompanied, in all circumstances, including condition of active service. Otherwise camp followers could never be on active service.- BONAR LAW.

35109/S

No. 28.

THE GOVERNOR to THE SECRETARY OF STATE. (Received 30th July, 1915.)

[Copy to India Office and War Office, 17th August, 1915. Secret. L.F.F. [Extracts from despatch, with enclosures 1, 3, and 4, published as No. 10 in [Cd. 8167], January, 1916.] (Confidential.)

SIR,

The Queen's House, Colombo, Ceylon, 8th July, 1915. IN continuation of my Confidential despatch of the 1st July,§ I have the honour to enclose, for your information, a copy of a further communication received from the Officer Commanding the Troops in Ceylon with regard to martial law.

2. Since I wrote last week, eighteen sentences of field general courts martial have been duly confirmed and promulgated by the Officer Commanding the Troops. In the case of one Pedris, who was in the Town Guard and had taken the oath of allegiance as such, the Brigadier-General saw fit not to refer the matter to me, and the death sentence was carried out (I learn) on the morning of the 7th instant. In seventeen other cases of capital sentences reference was made to me, and I enclose a copy of my letter of the 5th instant to the Officer Commanding the Troops inti. mating that the clemency of the Crown was exercised in three instances (of con structive treason). My decision, I may add, was given on the unanimous advice of the Executive Council in each of these seventeen cases. Numerous other cases will come before me in Executive Council in due course. I am carefully watching to the best of my ability the effect of this action on the Sinhalese population, with regard

* Now, 2, 16, 18, and 20.

+ No. 18.

• No. 21.

+ No, 20.

↑ No. 16.

$ No. 22.

"'S