CO129-424 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [9-10] — Page 114

11i

He states further that Indar Singh was dated several years ago

4.

Singh's certificate from Baghwan

+

With regard to the Gurdwara, I consider that

Kajor-General Kelly's description of it as a hot bed of selition is

exaggerated. It is certain that a good deal of loose talk and no

doubt some sedition has taken place there especially (see enclosure 3) among the very large number of Indians who passed through this

Colony during the latter part of 1914 and the current year from

the United States of America and other foreign countries where they had imbibed an unwholesome freedom of both manners and thought. On the other hand in justice to the mixed Civil and Military

Committee which manages the Gurdwara under rules, which have been

approved by me, I have to record the excellent services rendered by the former President of the Gurdwara Subadar Hajor Kula Singh of the 126th. Baluchis, one of my Honorary Indian Aides-de-Camp, and

of the former Secretary, Sergeant Major Mohinder Singh of the

Hongkong Police, who were of the greatest assistance in controlling

many unruly Indian visitors who enjoyed the hospitality of the

Curdhwara during the stress of the Indin migration from the Pacific coast to India. At Major-General Kelly's suggestion I

personally thanked the Subadar "ajor for these services when he

left the Colony with his regiment early this year. It is necessary

to explain that the Gurdwara is largely used as a rest house for

travelling Hindus. I discussed with Major-General Kelly last

October the fensibility of confining either on land or in a vessel

specially set sport for the purpose, Indians returning from the Pacific coast but the numbers involved rendered the proposal impracticable cwing to the large demands entailed upon the

garrison and the Police in guarding large numbers of men compulsori-

-ly detained in positions which would necessarily have been isclet-

-ed. The system adopted was to allow returning emigrants to land and

to be accommodated either at the Sikh Temple (Gurdwara) or at the

Mahomedan Mosque. All such persons were searched before they

landed