Showing 6 results

S. S. Mongolia - Has been reading the proof [of 'Totemism and Exogamy'?] and makes suggestions for changes to the section on Indian totemism.

Mostyn House, Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge. Dated 14th March 1910 - Writes about the winds in the Khasi hills in answer to his enquiry, and lists the names of the intermediate points of the compass, the four 'Kons'; is just back from reading E. A. Gait's paper on the Indian Census to the Society of Arts.

They too have considered the question in Council, though in view of Chelmsford’s [forthcoming] tour the actual text of the message has not yet been approved. Discusses the four alterations to their proposals suggested by Montagu. (1) They do not agree that a general amnesty should precede the inquiry and synchronise with the Indemnity Bill: Local Government has dealt with the question of remissions quickly, and the handling of convictions by summary courts will also be quick, and as regards minor offences will approximate to an amnesty. There is an important difference between this discretional remission by the head of the province and an indiscrimating amnesty, which would be wrongly ascribed in India to pressure brought to bear on Montagu in England. (2, 3) They agree, with some misgiving, to the inclusion in the scope of reference of an investigation into immediate causes and to the inquiry being public, but if a garbled presentation of details in the press leads to ill-feeling and unrest the chairman should be able to hold part of the inquiry in camera. (4) They should prefer a judge as chairman of the committee, and would have welcomed Lord Dunedin if he had been available, but suggest instead Sir Edward Moon or a non-political peer like Lord Inchcape; they could not accept either Sir Lawrence Jenkins or Sir Walter Lawrence, the two men suggested by Montagu. If a suitable chairman is chosen they will ask Gait to serve [on the committee], as it is essential to have a senior administrative officer with experience of conditions in northern India. As regards a military member, they await Montagu’s suggestion. For a high court judge they recommend Rankin. The three Mohammedans suggested by Montagu—Ameer Ali, Baig, and Abdul Rahim—they consider unsuitable and therefore adhere to their recommendation of Rauf. For a Hindu member they prefer Chandravarkar, but will not object to Setalvad. Their only substantial difference from Montagu is on the matter of an immediate amnesty. Urges him to give definite orders as soon as possible.

(Mechanical copy of typed original.)

Mostyn House, Brooklands Avenue, Cambridge. Dated 19th May 1914 - Encloses a letter from his son [James?], who is assistant political officer in Simla; Haddon thought he would like to see it; has been reading proofs of E. A. Gait's paper on the Census; asks if he heard that Sylvain Lévi was called by a reporter to comment on Rabindranath Tagore received the Nobel prize, 'on the ground that a learned Israelite would sure know something about "le rabbin Tégoro"'; [Sir William] Ridgeway is perturbed about Ulster, and took a leading part in the demonstration on Parker's Piece, but it was not well attended.

S. S. Mongolia. Dated 18.10.9 - Has been reading the proof [of 'Totemism and Exogamy'?] and makes suggestions for changes to the section on Indian totemism.

Continues his telegram of the 15th [A2/1/7]. Has sent a communication to Lloyd, based on Montagu's suggestion [in A2/1/6]. Lloyd has replied that action against Horniman cannot be delayed, and he will probably be deported today or on Friday. Lloyd prefers deportation to trial, since there are signs that students and others are attempting to tamper with the military and the police, and thinks it best, if there is to be trouble, to have it now; he adds that the situation is so complex to diagnose that it is impossible to be certain of the better course of action, but that they have decided to deal with Horniman first, leaving the others till they see the general mood. Chelmsford has advised in reply that he also prefers deportation. Lloyd, who will address a meeting of leading citizens tomorrow, advises that Gandhi seems 'genuinely perturbed' by recent events, but although his statement may allay the feeling somewhat, Gandhi 'intends to pursue the methods whose results he so easily deplores', and that his actions will not affect the revolutionists, of whom he is merely a tool. Gait [Lieutenant-Governor of Bihar and Orissa] is concerned by the situation in his province, where Hasan Iman has taken the satyagraha vow. Calcutta seems to have settled down. The security of Amrita Bazar Patrika has been forfeited owing to inflammatory articles. Delhi is in a state of nervous tension, and shops are still unopened. In the Punjab, the action by the military at Amritsar appears to have had a good local effect, but the effect on the rural population is still unknown. Sporadic outbreaks of different intensity have occurred across the Punjab, and martial law has been extended to the Gujrunwala district. The Seditious Meetings Act has been brought into operation in the districts of Multan and Jullundur. [The Maharaja of] Patiala sent his Imperial Service Troops to help the patrol line in Bhatinda. Chelmsford is writing to the chiefs in the vicinity of the disturbed areas to urge them to co-operate.

(Carbon copy.)