PUNJAB RIOTS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 July 1920, Page 5

PUNJAB RIOTS.

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.

GENERAL DYER ATTACKED. By Talegraph.—rrej» A»sn.—Ccpytl*rft; Received July 12, 8.16 p.m. London, July 10. Continuing the debate in the House of Commons on the India Office vote, Sir Edward Carson entered a passionate plea for General Dver, urging that a man ought not to be punished for dealing to the best of his ability with a situation for which he was not in the slightest degree responsible. Mr. Winston Churchill (Secretary for War) explained at length the Army Regulations' reference to retirement, adding that the Army Council's decision was reached unanimously. Mr. Churchill, while assenting to the Council's decision, held himself free, in the event of Cabinet deciding otherwise, to make another submission to the Crown for the retirement of General Dyer from the army. The Cabinet, however, accepted . inclusions of the Army Council. Mr. Churchill described the shooting incideij' a? a monstrous event, standing out in sinister isolation, and he proceeded to lay down four browt lines for the guidance of ouieerH as follows: Firstly, is the crowd. attacking anything or anybody? is the crowd armed? Third;", ;o more force should be used tlia.n t 0 secure compliance with 'V kw. Fourthly, an officer should conflr? Mmseir to a limited definite objective.

Mr. Churchill also laid down . one general prohibition, namely, against frightfulnesc, which -wild not be admitted in any form. Personally, he was of opinion that General Dyer should 1-ave been placed cotnpulsorily on the. retired list.

Mr. Asqulth pointed out that th» judgment passed on General Dyer 7/as supported by the Government of Indian, confirmed by-the British Cab:rot, and independently by the Army Council. Therefore, he contended. General Dys: had a full and fair hearing. Replying to Mr. Hurd, Coicsel L. C. Am pry (UndJr-Secretary "r-r the Colonies) said a complete list the contributions by the Dominions, Colonies, and Dependencies in men, money and kind, in aid of the Allies during the war, was now being prepared for publication. A Labor iftotion for a redurfe?- of the Estimates was defeated by 247 votes to 37. A number of Unionists abstained from Toting. A niotion by Sir Edward Carcon for a reduction of the' Estimates was defeated by 240 -votes to 129.-Aus.-jO. Cable Assn.

GENERAL'DYER'S DEFENCE. London, July 9. A White Paper has been issued giving the defence of Genera! Dyer. He point 3 out that he knew the military dangers of the position and the cloud t» j-.fghajiistan, and also realised that ths gatherings in jaliianwallaghbagh were not fortuitous, but that they had assfmbled with the express intent of challenge to Government authority atid to defy him. To firs upon them was, in fact, to fire on a rebel army. He was conscious that a great offensive movement was gathering, and to sit still ai-d await complete mobilisation would have been fatal*.

He could not regard the Jallianw&llaghbagh assembly as a mere political gathering, and looked on Amritsar as the storm centre of rebellibn. He also knew that attempts were being made to seduce the troops. If he had shirked the challenge there would have inevft- 11 ably followed a general mob movement inside and outside Amritsar, which would would have destroyed the European population and involved iifi its ruin the law-abidipg Inoian population, leading to, similar results throughout the Punjab.

General Dyer contends that his object was right, the force used was not excessive, and achieved the desired effect, also that no less force would achieved the effect.