'Mesopotamia Commission. Report of the Commission Appointed by Act of Parliament to Enquire into the Operations of War in Mesopotamia, together with a Special Report by Commander J Wedgwood, DSO, MP, and Appendices. London: HMSO, 1917.' [‎65r] (129/248)

127
B EVIDENCE AS TO THE ATTITUDE OF THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT
FROM SPEECHES.
25. The evidence of the attitude of the Indian Government is as clearly shown in
speeches made before the Indian Council in March, 1915, on the Budget Debate at Simla.
On March 2nd Sir William Meyer stated in Council^—“ In consequence of the war, ex
penditure is being restricted to what is considered essential for the maintenance of
efficiency and the protection of this country.” Lord Hardinge, in the Budget debate
on March 30th said—“ The imposition of additional taxation at the present time would
not in our judgment have been justified either by financial requirements or by the present
economic condition of the country.” Mr. Bannerjee added—“ Although it is a War Budget
it does not add to the military expenditure ; on the contrary, the military expenditure
is slightly less than had been budgeted for. Mr. Abbott, of Jhansi, offered a mild pro
test, he said—“ Handsome as our offerings may have been, . . . they have not I
regret to say, been on the same piincely footing and basis as that of our fellow Colonials.
However, I am confident that the demand has only to be made and loyal India will . . .
offer to pay the expenses of our Expeditionary Forces in the same way as Canada and
Australia are doing.” To which Sir William Meyer replied India had been paying
heavily for a splendid Army . . . for the defence of India . . . India had been
maintaining this Army long before the Dominions thought of doing anything, to speak of,
in the way of military expenditure.”
While the above extracts, show clearly enough the attitude of the Government
towards expenditure on the war, two further speeches show as clearly the attitude of the
same people towards borrowing on the London market. Lord Hardinge in the same
Budget debate declared—“ Our capital programme . . . i.e., for railways and canals
must be maintained on a scale bearing some reasonable relation to past stan
dards if excessive hardship and dislocation are to be avoided. Our borrowing arrangements
naturally follow.” As late as October, 1915, Sir William Meyer, speaking in the Karachi
Chamber of Commerce, explained the situation—“ The lending capacities of India are very
limited, and we cannot face the prospect of depriving ourselves of the aid, which we shall
have to look to from them, by letting them be diverted to a War Loan.”*
C. EVIDENCE SHOWING THE OPINION HELD BY RESPONSIBLE PERSONS
ON THE ATTITUDE ADOPTED BY THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT.
26. It is unfortunate that Lord Kitchener could give no living testimony, but answers
by Lord Crewe, General Sir Edmund Barrow and Major-General Maurice are given below .
Lord Crewe : “ From the first the Government of India kept camplaining almost
bitterly of the demands that were made on them. . . He (Lord Kitchener) took
preciselv the same view of the denudation of British troops in India. 1 quite well
remember his going so far as to say, on one occasion that, even if we lost India through
a mutinv, it would be better than losing the fight in France.
Lord Crewe, being asked : “ They treated the crisis rather as though it were an
extreme form of frontier campaign than as though it were a world-wide war for which
there was no precedent,” replied : “ Yes, I do not think that is an unfair criticism.
Genercd Sir Edmund Barrow, being asked : ' It is no use to suggest to us that we
should take further risks in India.’ Does not that indicate a rather curious spiiit in
connection with this European war ? Do they put India first and England second ?
replied : “ Yes, it would really read so.”
General Sir Edmund Barrow, being asked : “ There does not seem to be any
exceptional energy or initiative in India,” answered : “ I am inclined to agree.
General Sir Edmund Barrow, being asked if he would indicate what haa caused
“ this breakdown of administration,” replied : “ Yes, but I think . . . the initial
cause goes far beyond this Commission. I mean it strikes at the whole system of mili
tary administration in India.”
Major-General Maurice, Director of Military Operations, being asked : Do you
think that the Indian Government have made full use of the resources of India as
has been done in this country ? ” replied : “ My impression is, certainly not.
* This speech of Sir William Meyer’s was not put before the Commission, but came privately into my
hk&is. Sir William Meye was not examined by the Commission as he was in India.