§ 46. Sir C. YATEasked the Prime Minister if he can now give the result of his inquiry into the statements contained in the letter of Sir Michael O'Dwyer, in the Press of the 7th November, 1921, exposing the unfair treatment of officers, civil and military, who took an active part in suppressing the Punjab rebellion of 1919; and, in view of the additional facts brought out in that letter, if he can state what steps the Government intend to take to safeguard the future prospects and to prevent the further persecution of those officers, British and Indian, who have been and are so seriously affected by the orders issued, as shown on page 50 of the Government's Review of India in 1920?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN (Leader of the House)I have seen the letter referred to. So far as the actual events of 1919 are concerned, no additional facts are brought to light. His Majesty's Government, after careful consideration of the Hunter Committee's Reports and the views of the Government of India, found it necessary to express disapproval of certain officers' errors of judgment, which in most, though not all, cases had taken the form of undue severity. In some instances officers, who did very good work in a position of great difficulty, had to be censured for particular actions which were ill-advised; and it should not be supposed that their good record is cancelled by the fact that they made mistakes. In such instances the officer's future is in his own hands, and many officers, civil and military, who have in difficult circumstances shown error of judgment, have successfully vindicated their reputations by subsequent good work. His Majesty's Government is unable to reopen the inquiry in the case of these officers. It is unfortunately true that, in spite of all that has been said and done to promote better feeling, a residuum of bitterness remains in the Punjab, which results in manifestations of social and personal enmity against 212 those who took part or aided in restoring order in 1919. Indians, whether Government servants or not, are more exposed to suffer from such manifestations than British, and it is impossible for any Government completely to neutralise the effects, but I know that the Viceroy regards the protection of those who have deserved well of the State as a paramount duty, and he will be equally ready to attach full weight to good service rendered, both before and since 1919, by officers who then incurred any measure of blame.
§ Sir C. YATEWill the right hon. Gentleman communicate with the Viceroy and ask him to put a stop to these officers being held up to opprobrium as having been censured for acts in connection with the Punjab rebellion?