'Volume II. MEMORANDA REGARDING OTHER EXTERNAL AFFAIRS. 1905.' [‎104r] (212/228)

11
buema.
14. (See paragraph 27 of thp
Burirsui r0 ?t t0 J ,er 1905 - ) The Government of
f h rr ffi ; tted > 0n , tlie8,h September 1905,
ment on pr( ;P osals for inflicting punish
ment on the village of Wellaung. It was
conskfVonn ^ ex P ed itionary force should
consist of 200 rifles and one mountain gun to
te supphed by the Military Policf. Of
this force only 100 rifles were, in the first
instance, to cross the administrative border,
the rest remaining at Lungno, which is within
a order and distant only three days’ march
from ^Wellaung. By way of penalty, the
-tfurma Government proposed to insist on the
return of all property that was taken from
the murdered men, the payment of substantial
compensation to their families, the payment
of a fine calculated with reference to the
means of the village as a contribution towards
the cost of the expedition, the deportation
of the principal ringleaders for a period to
the plains ; and if the village should resist, con
fiscation of one-third of their fire-arms. If it
was found otherwise impossible to open negotia
tions, the Government of Burma proposed,
in addition, to destroy the crops and other
property of the villagers to the extent necessary
to that end. The cost of the expedition was
estimated not to exceed Bs. 25,000. The
Government of India sanctioned these proposals,
but stated that the officer in charge of the
expedition should be instructed to refrain
from destroying property unless circumstances
rendered it necessary. The Government of
Burma telegraphed, on November the 1st,
that the Wellaung people were showing some
inclination to negotiate with the Superintendent
of the Chin Hills, their version of the
occurrence being that the murdered men had
stolen a blanket. The Government of Burma
proposed that the expedition should proceed,
but that the terms should be moderated if
theft by the murdered men was established.
To this the Government of India agreed.
15. (See paragraph 25 of the Memoran
dum for October 1905.) The murderers of the
Chief of Hsatung have been detected. There
were in all eleven accused, of whom one was
allowed to become approver, and the remain-
in 0, ten men have been tried, proved guilty,
and sentenced to death. The successful issue
of the investigation is stated to have created an
excellent impression.
CHINA.
16 On the 2nd November 1905, the
Goverainent of India granted Lieutenant-
Coiontl Rippon, Commandant, 89th Punjabis,
permission to travel in China, provided he
obtained the necessary passports.