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Quotes a telegram from the Punjab [from O'Dwyer; see A2/5/3], 24 April, as follows: 'All quiet in Lahore and Amritsar. Report from Kasur shows arrest of 13 men concerned in Kasur riots. Yesterday Amritsar Movable Column from Ferozepore arrived. Another Column accompanied by Deputy Commissioner left this morning. Loot from Amritsar is said to have been found in remote villages in Jullundur and Lyallpur. Gurdaspur reports that misunderstandings are evaporating. Arrests in progress in Gujrunwala. Telegraph wire cut at Begowal between Wazirabad and Sialkot. Officer Commanding Troops proclaimed martial law in Lyallpur in durbar. Movable Column and armoured train operating in district. Gross exaggerations prevalent regarding punishments imposed under martial law. As regards Lahore civil area (which includes city civil station and Mogulpur) facts are that since martial law proclaimed 28 persons in all dealt with by Courts Martial. Of these 2 remanded for further enquiry, 5 discharged and only one insane and sent to asylum. Remaining 12 sentenced to flogging. 2 receiving also sentences of imprisonment and one of fine. In addition 8 have been fined. Men flogged were all with the exception of one petty shopkeepers of menial or servant class. Average number of stripes, ten. Charges in five cases was of tearing down notices and in seven of being out after hours. Since 20th no cases of any kind.' There have been three cases of incendiarism on the lines of the 1/34th Sikh Pioneers, Ambala. In the United Provinces local agitators are still active at Meerut. Nothing is reported from elsewhere.

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(i) The annexed telegram about Amritsar must be sent to avoid delay.

(ii) General Dyer’s conduct in firing at Amritsar has been criticised because he is reported to have said that the crowd might have dispersed without being fired on, and because the Criminal Procedure Code forbids the use of unnecessary force to disperse a crowd. Dyer’s defenders, including O’Dwyer, allege that his action prevented disorder elsewhere in the Punjab. Asks Chelmsford to advise his own view of accepted practice, in order that Montagu may express an opinion when the report emerges.

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Has received a cheerful letter from O'Dwyer [Lieutenant-Governor of the Punjab]. The deportation of Horniman has been delayed, as he is undergoing an operation, apparently for venereal disease. The situation is improving, but not cleared, and the consequences of peace decisions in regard to Turkey are still to be faced. 'At present, of course, the Mohammedans have no inkling of the possibilities in that direction.'

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Continues A2/1/8. O'Dwyer has declined for the present an offer of extra staff, and reports the Punjab situation better. In reply to specifice inquiries, O'Dwyer reports that (a) in rural areas disorderly elements are looting trains and damaging Government property; (b) there is no evidence yet that demobilised soldiers are prominent, though some may have joined disorderly bands; (c) attempts have been made to seduce Indian troops, but so far their attitude is staunch, and they are being used everywhere. Annie Besant was at Simla yesterday, and is reported to have stated in an interview with the Press Association that there is nothing in the Rowlatt Act to which a good citizen could object; she had opposed passive resistance because she believed it would lead to disregard of law and consequently to rioting and bloodshed; she condemned Gandhi; and she admitted the existence of revolutionary movements in some places, and considered it the duty of all leaders to help Government in the task of putting down violence. At Calcutta, moderates have issued a manifesto condemning the passive resistance movement. Roos-Keppel [Chief Commissioner of the North-West Frontier Province] reports organised attempts in Peshawar to work up Rowlatt agitation and Mohammedan feeling. Large demonstrations have been held there, but there has been no breach of peace. Refers to A2/3/4 [a telegram received by him from Montagu, but intended in fact for Sir George Lloyd] and states that they regard deportation at present from a broadly preventative standpoint, but admits that deportation of an individual can lead to serious temporary local outbreaks.

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On the first reports of floggings Chelmsford sent a telegram to O'Dwyer pointing out their grave effect on public opinion throughout India, and urging that this form of punishment should be avoided as far as possible and the least publicity given. He also asked him to consider the question of ending press messages from Lahore, as references to people being 'cowed and sullen' do more harm than good. This telegram elicited the information quoted in A2/5/1. Similar strict injunctions were issued as the same time to all martial law areas.

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Dyer's order, though unjustifiable, was provoked by a most brutal outrage, as has since been proved in court. In view of the speedy cancellation of the order, the time elapsed since it was given, and Dyer's otherwise admirable management of the situation, as well as the handle it would give to 'political sensation-mongers', Chelmsford deprecates taking the action Montagu suggests, which would be resented by all Englishmen in India. Dyer is presently commanding the 45th Brigade on the Frontier and has recently achieved a success over Nadir Khan at Thal. O'Dwyer, who is on his way home, can give further details. The Commander-in-Chief [Monro] fully concurs in Chelmsford's view of the matter.

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Continues A2/27/2. They should condemn the Extra-Assistant Commissioner who had people in marriage processions flogged, leaving Local Government to deal with him. They should condemn the crawling and salaaming orders, and censure officers who used unnecessary severity. In Delhi it is only necessary to commend Barron and to exonerate Colonel Beadon with regard to special constables, modifying the constables’ rules of employment if necessary. They should approve the actions of Government and the local authorities in Bombay, and those of Fyson, Broadway, and the Punjab Government in Lahore. Generally speaking they should commend strongly those officers whose work is approved by the Committee for their prompt and vigorous action. They should express general appreciation of General Johnson’s administration, but disapprove of the number of floggings and the orders criticised by the Committee. At Gujrunwala they should reprobate the dropping of bombs on certain occasions, but take no further action against the officers concerned. They should definitely exonerate O’Dwyer and state that he acted with decision and vigour in crushing a dangerous rising. In conclusion they should express regret for the lives lost, and advise they are taking steps to prevent a repetition of those aspects of the administration of martial law which have been censured, by means of a manual of instruction, which he hopes will be ready by the time the report is published. They should also state their intention to compensate the injured and the dependents of those killed at Jallianwala Bagh without discrimination, unless they are known to have taken part in the outrages of 10 April.

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(i) [1] Some time ago Montagu showed him his correspondence with Chelmsford about General Dyer’s actions at Amritsar under martial law [see A2/9]. Holderness was also present, and all agreed that a man who issued such an order was unfit for a position of responsibility. Chelmsford asked Montagu to postpone taking action until he had consulted O’Dwyer, but the latter has said little more than that he was in time to advise cancelling the order before it was put into force. (2) A few days ago Montagu gave him the enclosed cutting [A2/18/4 b]. It is unclear whether Hodgson’s order was carried out, or for how long it was in force, but the same remarks apply as in Dyer’s case, and though the result of the order would be less serious, there was not the same excuse of provocation. (3) Montagu has asked him to advise on both cases, and he suggests that (1) Montagu should officially disapprove of Dyer’s order and express doubt whether he is fit for higher responsibilities; and (2) that he should ask Chelmsford about the enforcement and duration of Hodgson’s order and the notice taken of it by the authorities.

(ii) ‘Please send private telegrams about the second case clear the line.’

((i) mainly typed; (ii) handwritten.)