Pièce 1 - Minute by an unidentified person

Brigadier-General Dyer has an excellent military record, and though he has committed an error of judgement [i.e. the 'crawling order'] the writer does not think he can be charged with a military crime. The order he issued, though doubtless unwise, unjust, and harmful to the izzat of those to whom it was given, did not involve material or physical damage. Dyer should be deprived of his command and sent home, but no more drastic action should be taken. If Dyer is tried by court martial there will be a great scandal, which will be magnified by the 'yellow press' in India and England, and an event which now has some chance of not being remembered for very long will achieve a notoriety which will last many years.

(Typed on a printed form headed 'Minute'.)