INFORMATION
ON SAVARKAR
GATHERED BY
THE BRITISH SECRET POLICE
1906-1909
KEPT IN
INDIA OFFICE RECORDS
A
note for the readers.
Whatever
we may think of the British Raj, we have to admire their record keeping. India
Office Library, London keeps files by their secret police on Savarkar and
others. These were explored by Late Mukund Sonapatki over a long period from
1968 to 1980. He had to make notes in pencil. As computers became more easily
available I typed all his notes for posterity. Now they are being put on our
web-site www.satyashodh.com.
The
work is by no means finished. If some one has time they can go to India Office
Library (now at 3rd floor, British Library, Euston Road, London) and
carry further research so that we can know more about our past.
Persons
mentioned in the files.
After
the unsuccessful Indian War of Independence of 1857-59, the British crown took
over adminidtration of India from the hands of the (English) East India
Company. The British Cabinet included a Secretary of State for India who
controlled the affairs of India through the Viceroy (in India). The secretary
of State for India had his office in the building called The India Office (now
Foerign and Commonwealth Office) which is behind the famous Downing Street. He
had his own Council of advisers. These were mostly retired ICS officers or
Indian Army Officers.
We
find the following on such a council
Sir
Arthur Godley, K.C.B – Under Secretary of State for India
Sir
William Lee-Warner, K.C.S.I – Vice President of the Council
Sir
John Edge, K.C
Theodore
Morrison.
Lt
Col Sir W H Wyllie, K C I E, M V O. – Political A.D.C to Secretary of State for
India.
-----------
Others
mentioned are- R. Ritchie, Sir Charles Elliott, Sir Charles Lyall,
Mr
Dube
Research
is needed about these persons.
V
S Godbole 23 August 2007
14
Turnberry Walk
Bedford
MK41,
8AZ
U.K.
----------------------------------------------------------------
L/P&S/7/317/2432
Letter from Sir Richmond to R Ritchie dated
14th
June 1906
V
D Savarkar is a brahmin youth aged about 22. He was educated at the Fergusson
College, Poona where he graduated. While in the college he attended a mass
meeting of students under the presidency of N C Kelkar,
(
editor of Maratta ) who addressed the meeting, advising students to support the
" Swadeshi " movement after which the meeting was thrown open for
discussion. It was at this meeting that Savarkar first came under notice as a
fiery and unbridled speaker. It is reported that at this meeting Savarkar urged
his countrymen to dispose everything that is English, and to abstain from
purchasing foreign goods. He suggested that all students should burn their
clothes made of English & Foreign cloth on Dasara day at Lakdipool.
For
this breach of college discipline Savarkar was fined Rs 10. The fine was
subscribed by the other students and handed over to Savarkar.
Since
leaving college he has gone to Nasik, where he is taking a active part in the
" Swadeshi " movement. At a meeting held at Nasik regarding the
Bengal Government's student circular, Savarkar informed the audience that he
was of the opinion that the movement was distinctly in the interests of
civilisation and was not directed against the Government, and that they should
not cease to participate in it and that no harm could befall those interesting
themselves in the movement. At another meeting held at Nasik, Savarkar is
reported to have made a rabid speech. But the details of this speech have not been
furnished. The police have been requested by the District Magistrate to keep an
eye on him.
Savarkar
is apparently looked upon as Sine Qua Non by students, and recently he has been
invited by them to establish in Poona a society for the political emancipation
of India. Savarkar responded to the invitation and convened a meeting for the
purpose at which he and others spoke. Savarkar wound up his address by dialling
on the subject of youth and vigour, scoffed at the experience of old age, which
he compared to faded flowers not fit for garlanding the goddess of nation, and
thus led up to Shivaji and Ramdas and latter's advice as given in a stanza of
which the first 3 lines may be translated as follows, " Collect many men,
make their thoughts one, and fall together.
The
fourth line of the stanza was omitted by Savarkar but its very omission
produced the desired effect. It runs in the " Mlenchhas " Savarkar
excuses himself and said the assembly would understand what he intended to say
but could not say it openly, as he was aware of the presence of detectives, a
fact of which he was glad as if they helped in the work about to be taken up so
much the better for the country.
Savarkar's
quotation was taken up by repeated cries of " Bande Mataram "
"
Shri Shivaji Maharaj Ki Jai " " Shri Ramdas Ki Jai " etc.
Savarkar continued that they had lost everything but that they should not shed
tears, it behoved them to shed blood to regain what they had lost. Tears, he
said, were woman's lot, work for men. He ended up by saying what they had lost
was their religion and this is what they had to establish.
Savarkar
is reported to be developing into a popular agitator and is proceeding to
England to lay before the people there the grievances of his fellow countrymen.
He expenses are to be defrayed out of the Shivaji scholarship started by S K
Varma now residing in London.
The
exact date of his departure is not known but he is being entertained by those
who sympathise with his cause as if he were on the point of leaving the country.
--------------------------------------
Remarks
by W L Warner.
All
we can do is to make his acquaintance and take notes, but not shadow him in any
way. 3/6/06.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr
Ritchie
Mr
Savarkar called on me today, by appointment, about obtaining an order for the
House of Commons to hear the debate on the Indian Budget on the 20th July - a
small man with an intelligent face and a nervous manner. He is staying with S K
Varma at the India House and has entered Grays Inn to study for the Bar. Sir W
Lee Warner saw him in my room and we agree in thinking that there is no
objection to his being given the order he asks for.
W
H C Wyllie. 18/7/06.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Indian
students in England / Essay by John
Pollen, CIE, LLD
----------------------
Indian
students in UK 6/845
Report
submitted 30 November 1907, pages 316. Actual report consists of 63 pages. Rest
of the pages are full of testimonies of various witnesses
On
14 March 1907 the Secretary of State appointed a committee to enquire and
report upon the position in this country of young Indians who come to England
to study ...
Members
Sir
William Lee Warner KCSI of India Office, ( Chairman )
Lt
Col Sir Curzon Wyllie of India Office
Theodore
Morison of India Council ?
M
J E Shuckburgh ( Secretary )
100
persons testified, some English officers, some Indians, 64 Europeans
Amir
Ali and Dadabhai Naoroji did not help even when asked for.
Students
at Oxford were reluctant to help
The
committee went to London, Cambridge, Oxford and then to Edinburgh.
Number
of students : London 380
Edinburgh 50
Cambridge 85
Oxford 32
Manchester 6
Birmingham 11
Others 26
----- --------------------
Total 700
(
Note : Population of India was 300 million )
Discipline
was strict at Oxford and Cambridge, much lax in London.
320
were studying Law in London. One member remarked, " The risk in London is
greater than risk in Calcutta. "
Another
feature of London was isolation. Even English students from outside London felt
lonely, what to talk of Indian students.
One
officer of the Inns of Court said in 1902 that some of the Indian students were
addicted, spendthrift, pleasure hunters. But committee members felt that on the
whole students were satisfactory. Some Indian students brought references and
saw English officers. But then did not bother afterwards to keep contact with
them.
Why
did the students behave in this way ?
(1)
They were away from home
(2)
They were unaware about the English education system
(3)
They were unable to find suitable accommodation and could not adjust to mode of
living in the U K.
(4)
They were unable to adopt English way of life.
More
and more students turned to the study of Law even if originally they came to U
K for a different subject, because the subject was easy. The Bar examination in
England was far more easier than in India. In India the Barrister enjoyed many
privileges.
Sir
John Edge said, " In India Vakils (?) and Barristers should be brought to
same level. Inns of Court should take a harder examination, without passing
this examination one should not be allowed to practice in India.
Indian students and politics
(1)
Before coming to England Indian students are unhappy about British rule.
(2)
This dissatisfaction increases after coming to England. They feel that the
expulsion of the British is the only hope for India.
The
committee then turned to India House. There are in England, representatives of
the Extremists in Indian Politics, and they spare no pain to win adherents to
their cause among the Indian students as soon as the latter arrive in this country.
Probably the most active of these has been, for sometime past, Mr S K Varma who
conducts a paper in London called the Indian Sociologist in which he urges his
countrymen to " boycott " the British Government as the surest means
of driving the British out of India. He has also founded a lodging house in
Cromwell Avenue, Highgate called " India House " at which students
willing to put up with a certain amount of discomfort are accommodated at a
very moderate charge. Representatives of the India House visit the railway
stations at which Indian Students arrive and offer them the advantage of these
cheap lodgings. On reaching the India House they are plied with the arguments
of Mr Varma's adherents and are no doubt frequently converted to his views. (Our
note : See Biography by Karandikar page 165 )
We
call attention to the following card of invitation to a meeting at Tilak House
( 78 Goldsmith Avenue, Acton ) which is another centre of Indian malcontents in
London. Under auspices of the "
Free India League " it is decided to commemorate the golden jubilee of the
Patriotic Rising of 1857. This meeting is to be held on Saturday 11th May, the
day of declaration of independence.
Some
government scholarship holders strongly condemned the British administration in
India. Therefore Government of India should be careful in awarding such
scholarships. They should insist on certificates from the relevant colleges to
the effect that the students are not political extremists. If they are careless
in this the students from such colleges should be barred from entering England.
Witnesses
(1) Sheikh Abdul Kadir
(2) Amir Ali. He sent a letter on behalf of
East Indian
Association
(3) Sir Charles Elliott
(4) Charuchandra Ghosh
(5) Douthwaite
In
Cambridge there was some racial discrimination. Students did not like use of
the words, natives, blacks or eyests?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday
6th May 1908
The
inaugural meeting of the London Branch of the All India Muslim League.
President Ameer Ali
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John
McCarthy, acting supdt CID - New Scotland Yard
Report
of a meeting at the " India House "
2nd September 1908
Pole,
Baron Parglas - 27 Perry Vale, Forest Hill - Egyptian " At the same
meeting a letter was read purporting to be written by a B.P. in which he
expressed regret at not being able to attend the meeting and went on to say
that, " I am quite ready to give my entire assistance to your only too
just cause " and " the events in Turkey will I trust be followed up
also in Egypt, and this will no doubt assist and further the endeavours of your
people. " and a good deal more in that strain.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A
meeting was held on 5th December 1908 at Alexandra Hall, Cambridge. Reported in
The Times of 7th December 1908. Mrs Datta was in chair. B C Pal was one of
speakers.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
L/P&J/6/908/4600
contains Savarkar's invitation for commemorating the birth anniversary of Shri
Guru Govind Singh on 29th December 1908.
Note
: Report in The Times of 30th December 1908
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5th
January 1909 The Standard
News
about Two historical statements and an editorial.
----------------------------------------------------------
Special
Branch - New Scotland Yard S.W. 11th
March 1909
I
beg to report that according to enquiries in Indian circles, it is believed
that Harnam Singh who was rusticated from Cirencester College in July 1908 for
wearing a Bande Mataram Button, is the man who recently wrote Gurumukhi appeal
to the Sikhs.
Harnam
Singh came to England in July 1907, and was introduced into Grays Inn by G
Shankar and S Krishnavarma. He afterwards went to study at Cirencester
Agricultural College and on his banishment from that institute, he returned to London, where he was much feted by his
compatriots for his action and patriotism with regard to the commemoration
medal.
In
December last he took an active part in the series of meetings held by Indian
agitators at the Caxton Hall, Westminster, after which he disappeared from
London, and now said to be residing in Paris.
He
is a native of Amritsar, is said to be a man in good circumstances, and to have
a thorough knowledge of the Gurumukhi Vernacular.
J
McBrien - Inspector
J McCarthy - Acting Supdt
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sir
Charles Lyall,
Mr
Douthwaite, under Treasurer of Gray's Inn called yesterday to enquire about two
Indian students, Harnamsingh & Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who have qualified
for the Bar and have applied to be called on 5th May.
Harnamsingh
is the student who behaved so badly at the Royal Agricultural College
Cirencester and Savarkar is another notorious agitator and a follower of Bipin
Chandra Pal.
Mr
Morison and I explained to Mr Douthwaite the disloyal character of these two
young men and in consequence of their representations a subcommittee of three
Benchers of Gray's Inn has been appointed to consider the matter.
Mr
Douthwaite very kindly called again this morning to explain the position and to
ask us for any written information we could give him corroborative of the
statements against these students.
He
has since sent the accompanying letter formally asking for this information,
and it is desirable that our answer should reach Mr Douthwaite by Monday
evening next.
From
the printed papers accompanying Mr Douthwaite's letter it will be seen that Shyamji
Krishna Varma is one of the sponsors for both the students and the files in the
J & P Department contain the incriminating evidence of the association of
these students with the proceedings of Shyamji Krishna Varma at the India
House.
I
think that a careful statement of these students' disqualifications to be
called to the Bar from our point of view might with advantage be sent to Mr
Douthwaite.
W H C Wylie.
29/4/09
Gray's
Inn 29th
April 1909
Dear
Sir Curzon Wyllie,
The
Benchers at Gray's Inn at their meeting last night adjourned until Wednesday
next the further consideration of the eligibility for call to the English Bar
of Harnam Singh and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, two students of this society
about whom I spoke to you yesterday. Both these students are qualified for the
Degree of Barrister according to the ordinary regulations of the Inns of Court
and they have applied to be called with other students on the 5th of May - next
Wednesday. Their cases have been adjourned because of the intimation I received
from you yesterday to the effect that the India Office were aware of certain
matters concerning these students, which suggested that they were not fit and
proper persons to be called. I know both you and Mr Morison appreciated the
fact that although this intimation was quite sufficient to justify a
postponement of the matter for a few days in the period intervening between the
consideration of their eligibility and the ceremony of " call ", a
refusal to call these students could only rest upon very definite evidence
concerning them which could be held to render them ineligible.
I
now write to ask therefore that I may receive as soon as possible any definite
information concerning Harmnam Singh and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar which is
deemed to affect the eligibility of both or either of them for call to the
English Bar.
Any
document which I receive will be submitted to a committee of three Benchers of
Gray's Inn who have been appointed to consider the matter.
Believe
me yours faithfully
D
W Douthwaite
Enclosed
are copies of the admission documents of both students.
Gray's
Inn 4th
May 1909
Dear
Sir Curzon Wyllie,
Thank
you very much indeed for your letter which will be very helpful.
You
will be glad to hear that my committee have decided to report to the Benchers
tomorrow night that neither Harnam Singh nor Savarkar should be called to the
Bar until full enquiry has taken place into the matters alleged against them.
I
have no doubt that the committee's report will be adopted. Certainly neither of
them will be called this term.
The
committee feel ( as I expected ) that except for the Police report there was a
lack of substantial matter against Harnam Singh.
They
would not refuse to call him on the Cirencester incident alone. We must
remember of course - that they have the Judges to think of.
Yours very truly
D W Douthwaite
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grays
Inn May 6th 1909
Dear
Sir Curzon Wyllie,
I
am directed by the Treasurer of Gray's Inn to inform you that your
communication in reference to the case of the two Indian students, Harnam Singh
and Vinayak Damodar Savarkar was considered by the Benchers of this Inn
yesterday in connection with the application from these students then pending
before them for admission to the Bar.
It
was decided that in face of your communication the consideration of this
application should be suspended and that in the meantime the Benchers should
investigate the subject matter of your report. Under the regulations of this
society, a preliminary enquiry has to be held by the discipline Committee with
a view of ascertaining whether upon the facts there is a case of complaint
calling for investigation.
The
Committee will sit for this purpose at Gray's Inn on next Wednesday, May the
12th at 5.30 when it is expected that the Indian office will submit to them the
evidence oral and documentary upon which the statements contained in their
communication to this society were founded. In dealing with a matter of such
grave importance the Benchers have a serious responsibility to discharge, not
merely in the public interest but also in the interest of the students concerned
and of the society itself and they can not take action unless they are
satisfied upon evidence of the truth of the matters alleged.
I
am, Dear Sir Curzon Wyllie,
Yours
faithfully
D
W Douthwaite.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Post
& Tel
Buckenhall Hall
( 6 May 1909 )
Munford
2M Munford,
Norfolk
Station,
Brandon
Telephone
22 Thetford
Dear
Sir Curzon Wyllie,
On
seeing Sir John Edge and Lord Marnaghin I found that the council of
and
that a report was in hand. In these circumstances
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily News interviewed Bipin
Chandra Pal about Savarkar.
Published
on Saturday 8th May 1909.
India
House carries on a propaganda, and if its sympathisers are not called to the
Bar on that ground, then it follows that every member of the Irish Land league
should be treated in the same way.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
18
Queens Gate S.W
May
9th, 1909
My
dear Wyllie,
Will
you kindly read this letter from Mr Underdom with regard to the Indian students
for the Bar ? The only point on which I want you to have the kindness to give
me information, is this - am I right in supposing that the advising committee,
just established by the Secretary of State will be prepared to answer enquiries
regarding the conduct or character of students...............to the committee
by the Inns of Court..........and generally act in consultation with the Regal
authorities in the matter of providing for control and of exercising discretion
in the ...........to the Inn.
Mr
Undertom's letter is dated April 28th 1909, but I have just found it here, and
as I shall meet him on the 12th an early answer from you, if profitable will be
very convenient to Queens Gate.
Lyall
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Daily
News Monday
10th May 1909
Grays
Inn Hindoos
Old
students views in India House
The
statements published in Saturday's "Daily
News" with regard to the constitution of India House are confirmed by
an interview which a representative has had with Mr Dube, an old resident there
who was appointed to Lord Morley's Advisory Committee.
"
I came to this country " he said, " more than two years ago, and as I
did not know anybody in London, and did not wish to put up at an hotel, I went
to India House where I understood all Indians were welcome. I spent two or
three weeks there. There were a member of Indian students who entertained a
variety of opinions on political questions. Residence in the house certainly
does not imply agreement with any political creed. "
Additional
weight is given to his testimony by the circumstance that on technical grounds
Mr Dube justifies the action taken by the Benchers of Gray's Inn with regard to
the calling to the Bar of the two Indian Students whose views are alleged to be
seditious.
"
It is a matter entirely in the discretion of the Benchers " he said,
" If it has come to the knowledge of the Benchers that these two young men
have actually professed disloyalty to the King and Constitution, thus they have
a perfect right not to call them to the Bar. The information of disloyal
professions must, of course, have been communicated to the Benchers by someone.
How they are going to decide what is sedition is another matter. "
---------------------------------------
May
11th
18,
Queens Gate. S W.
My
dear Wyllie,
I
return this letter with my thanks for the information in the subject that you
have written to me.
Yours
sincerely
Lyall
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
India Office
Whitehall S.W
May 12th, 1909
Dear
Mr Douthwaite,
I
must apologise for the delay in acknowledging your letter of the 6th inst.
You
will see from Mr Morison's letter, which I enclose that Mr Lint Smith is
prepared to give evidence in support of the statements made by him regarding
Savarkar, and I have ascertained that
Sergeant Parker and police constable Hallett are prepared to give evidence that
Savarkar spoke at the meting in the Caxton Hall on Dec. 29th as reported in the
Govt of India confidential letter to the Secretary of State No. 3 of 4th March
1909 para 5.
Enclosed
I send a Scotland yard special branch report which you possibly care to see.
I
dare say you know that Savarkar's brother is now the subject of a criminal
prosecution in connexion with sedition in India.
Yours
very truly
W
H C wyllie
India Office
Whitehall S.W
12th May 09
Dear
Mr Douthwaite,
I
have consulted Mr Lint Smith of the Evening Standard and he authorises me to
say that he is ready to give evidence before the Benchers in support of the
statements made by him regarding Savarkar which have been communicated to you.
He desires to be informed of the time and place at which his evidence will take
place.
The report from Scotland Yard which I forwarded to you contains
certain reports of speeches which Savarkar is alleged to have made at secret
meetings at India House. The evidence upon which Scotland Yard relies cannot be
produced, it was given to the police in confidence and it is quite impossible
to disclose the source from which it was derived. We believe however that the
information which Scotland Yard has obtained with regard to Savarkar is correct
and the statements which we have forwarded to you are accepted as trustworthy
in this office.
I
should like to add that neither I nor Sir Curzon Wyllie is prosecuting Savarkar
before the Benchers. A doubt has been expressed as to the fitness of this man
to be called to the Bar and we are putting before you such information as we
possess. But we do not challenge the right of Benchers to call anybody they
like and we have never taken pains to collect evidence with regard to any
particular student with a view of preventing his call to the Bar, had we done
so we should now no doubt have much more direct evidence to put before you
regarding Savarkar.
We
cordially sympathise with the Benchers in desiring to keep the honoured name of
Barrister free from reproach and if any information that is in our possession
can be of service to the Benchers in that behalf we are glad to communicate it,
but the good name of the Bar is after all the concern of the Benchers and not
of the India Office and we cannot take upon ourselves the responsibility of
advising you whom you shall and whom you shall not call.
Believe
me
Yours
sincerely
T
Morison.
Gray's Inn
13th May 1909
Dear
Sir Curzon Wyllie,
Harnam
Singh is to be informed that no further proceedings will be taken against him
but he will be admonished by the Treasurer in the presence of the Bench.
Savarkar
is to be called on to answer three charges :-
1)
That by assisting in the circulation of pamphlets and by taking part in
seditious meetings he incited the Nation of India to revolt.
2)
That he advocated assassination
3)
That he expressed approval of assassination.
Liberty
is left to add to this indictment of course with notice to him.
Our
enquiry will, I think, be held on 9th June.
I
will let you know when the date is fixed and it may be that I shall ( if you
will permit me ) trouble you with another visit shortly with reference to Mr
Lint Smith's appearance and other matters.
I
expect that Harnam Singh will be called next term. I shall be writing to both
students tomorrow.
Douthwaite
No - 727 of 1909
Govt of India
Home Dept
Political
To
Sir Arthur Godley G.C.B.
His Majesty's Under Secretary of State
for India
Simla 13th
May 1909
Sir,
In
continuation of the letters noted in the margin, I am directed to forward,
for
the information of the Secretary of State , a copy of a letter from the Govt of
Bombay, No 4830 SD dated the 28th April 1909 and enclosures regarding the
finding of certain letters and seditious literature in the house of G D
Savarkar of Nasik and the Institution of proceedings against him under sections
121, 121-A and 124-A of the Indian Penal Code.
[ 1) Despatch from the Govt of India
in the Home Dept, No 3 Political, dated
the 4th March 1909
2)
Letter from the Govt of India in the Home Dept. No. 481. Political, dated the
25th March 1909 ]
2)
I am to add that, on the 11th January 1909, orders were issued under section 26
of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898, directing the interception of V D
Savarkar's book on the Indian Mutiny.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your most obedient servant
H.A.Stuart.
Secretary to the Govt of India.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copy
of Telegram
From
Viceroy. Dated Simla 15th May 09.
Received
at London Office 2 09 PM.
Reuters
wired 7 May that Benchers, Gray's Inn had postponed calling to Bar two Indian
students owing to connexion with Indian sedition. If either student is V D
Savarkar this connexion is undoubted. We are sending by this mail important
documents establishing his active participation in seditious movement.
India Office
Whitehall S.W
My
Dear Lyall,
The
Benchers have given Savarkar a written statement of the charges against him. He
is allowed till 22nd May in which to frame his written reply. The reply will be
considered on 26th May by the Benchers.
If
Savarkar fails in his written statement to refute the charges brought against
him, he will be examined by the Benchers on 9th June.
We
ought to have the papers from India by 5th June if they leave by next Saturday
from Bombay, so that I think they will be in time to hoist our friend.
Yours
sincerely
T
Morison
17th
May 1909
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Grays Inn
18th May 1909
Dear
Sir Curzon Wyllie,
Thank
you for your letter enclosing copy of a telegram. No doubt I am right in
supposing that when these documents ( referred to in the telegram ) arrive they
will not be confidential.
It
would be embarrassing if, after the Bench had postponed - as they may have to
do - the consideration of the matter pending the arrival of the documents, we
were unable to produce them at the enquiry.
No
doubt this point has occurred to you. Meanwhile I will take care that the
matter is treated as confidential.
I
remain yours faithfully
D
W Douthwaite
India Office
Whitehall S.W
Sir
Arthur Godley,
I
have added a forward to the draft telegram and suggest that it should be issued
at once
Lyall 19/5/09
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
India Office
Whitehall S.W
My
Dear Lyall,
Wyllie
and I think that a telegram to this effect should go to India today or tomorrow
to make sure that we get all the incriminating evidence before the Benchers
decide.
Yours
sincerely
T
Morison
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To
Viceroy
( Home Dept )
Your
telegram - 15th May 1909
V
D Savarkar is one of the students whose call to Bar is postponed. Benchers will
decide case 9th June, send all documents by this mail. The other is Harnam
Singh. Is there any conclusive evidence of his connexion with Gurumukhi leaflet
?
Sent
19th May 1909.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D
O No. 237 Political
Home
Dept
Simla
- 20th May 09
India
Dear
Sir Arthur Godley,
In
reply to Secretary of State's telegram of yesterday, received this morning, I
am desired to refer to the papers sent with my letter No. 727 - Political dated
13th May 1909 and to paras 3 & 5 of the Govt of India's Political dispatch,
No 3 dated 4th march 1909 and to enclosures 1 and 2 of that dispatch, attention
is particularly invited to the first enclosure.
2)
Regarding Harnam Singh, I am to say that we have no conclusive evidence of his
connexion with the Gurumukhi leaflet referred to in the Secretary of State's
telegram. It will be remembered that this youth left the Cirencester College
because he was not allowed to wear a medal in commemoration of the Indian
Mutiny " Martyrs " It is reported that he said he got this medal from
Savarkar. A Scotland Yard report of the 26th February last states that he was
then in Paris assisting Shyamji Krishna Varma
Yours
very truly
H
A Stuart.
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India Office
Whitehall S.W.
Mr
Morison,
These
and the papers..........the Government of India's Telegram of 15th instant I am
afraid they don't add much to the case. The last the Vande Mataram essay
apparently if by Savarkar himself could be useful
C.I.Lyall
29/5/09
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India Office
Whitehall S.W.
1st June 1909
My
dear Lyall,
I
do not think that there is anything in these papers from India which the
Benchers have not already in their possession. Scotland Yard had an early copy
of the letters signed Tatya and have also a copy of the Bande Mataram pamphlet
I believe, we want evidence to connect Savarkar with it. I don't find anything
in these papers which proves such a connection
Yours
Sincerely
T.Morison
India Office
Whitehall S.W.
Sir
Arthur Godley,
The
Government of India send the papers which in their telegram of the 15th May,
they said, " Established the acting participation of V D Savarkar in the
Indian Seditious movements. "
Please
see Mr Morison's note below. These papers do not appear to add anything to what
is already known and in the possession of the Benchers of Grays Inn. But Sir W
Curzon Wyllie might communicate a copy of the print to Mr Douthwaite.
C.I.Lyall 2/6/1909
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India Office
Whitehall S.W.
June 4th 1909
Dear
Mr Douthwaite,
The
papers about Mr Savarkar, which I mentioned in a recent letter as being on
their way from India have arrived, but they do not appear to add anything to
what is already known and in the possession of the Benchers of Grays Inn.
W.H.C.Wyllie.