PUNJAB REBELLION

Southland Times, Issue 18834, 29 May 1920, Page 5

PUNJAB REBELLION

HUNTER COMMITTEE’S FINDINGS

CONFLICTING REPORTS

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) SIMijA, May 26. The report of the committee which inquired into the Punjab rebellion is pub lished. Publication has been withheld till now owing to the tension existing over the Turkish peace terms. The document contain:- majority and minority reports. The former states that Gene al Dyer committed a grave error in ordering the troops to fire on the crowd nl Amritsar. This is practically the only serious censure in the majority report, which is signed by the European members of the committee.

The minority report, which is signed by the throe Indian members, condemns martial law a? a system of terror inflicted on the people. The majority report justifies martial law, though there is no evidence of r.n organised conspiracy to overthrow British government. The majority of the members of the comnfittee consider that General Dyer honestly believed he was doing (light in difficult circumsta necs.

GENERAL DYER. SUPPORTED BY MILITARY OPINION. LONDON. May 27. (Received May 28, 8,45 p.m.) General Dvr declines to comment on Sir Archibald Hunter's committee's report b-yond ■av'n.g that events will justify him. The military view strongly supports General Dyer. Sir George Younahusband declares that General Dyer took (he only possible step to stop a native rising, and whites in India, especially women, thank him. Sir O’Moore Crengh. a former Coinman-der-in-Chicf in India, says: ‘'Sedition in Indial will be encouraged by this damnable report. Genera! Dyer's action was absolutely essential.”