Correspondence about the Disturbances in Port-of-Spain in Dec 1919, 1919-1921
With one unfoliated item. Comprises:
(fols. 1-21) Letter from G. Grindle, Colonial Office, to Chancellor, with copies of despatches from the Acting Governor of Trinidad, M.M. Gordon, dated 29 Jul and 7 Aug, regarding unrest among non-European communities. Enclosures appended include reports to the Colonial Secretary from Colonel May and Lt. Col. Maxwell Smith, Dispersal Commandant, 10 Sep 1919.
(fols. 22-54) Papers contained in an envelope marked 'Secret': 'Correspondence with the S/S regarding Disturbances in Port-of-Spain, 1-3 Dec 1919', 7 Dec 1919-22 Mar 1920:
- (fols. 22-36) despatch from Chancellor to Milner, giving a narrative of events in the Colony between 15 Nov and 6 Dec: the strike of stevedores for higher pay, the rioting of 1-3 Dec, the arrival of H.M.S. 'Calcutta' on 2 Dec, and the steps taken to restore order in both Trinidad and Tobago, 7 Dec 1919
- (fols. 37-42) telegrams between Chancellor and Amery about the appointment of a Wages Committee, 16-23 Dec 1919
- (fols. 43-51) despatch from Chancellor giving a further report on the situation in Trinidad, 27 Jan 1920
- (fol. 52) despatch from Amery to Chancellor in reply to his of 7 Dec (fols. 22-36). Amery refers to a Commission of Enquiry, under the Chairmanship of Mr Justice Russell, to report on the conduct of the police during the strike, 23 Jan 1920
- (fol. 53) despatch from Amery to Chancellor in reply to his of 27 Jan (fols. 43-51), 22 Mar 1920
- (fol. 54) envelope that contained the above papers, with a note by Chancellor, n.d.
(fols. 55-62) Papers relating to the Wages Committee, appointed to enquire into rates of wages in the Colony, 22 Dec 1919-31 Jan 1920:
- (fols. 55-59) despatch from Chancellor about the appointment of the Committee under the Chairmanship of A.G. Bell, Director of Public Works, 22 Dec 1919
- (fol. 60) list of Committee Members, n.d.
- (fol. 61) cutting from The Trinidad Royal Gazette with a statement by Chancellor, n.d.
- (fol. 62) despatch from Amery expressing satisfaction with the appointment of the Committee, 31 Jan 1920.
(fols. 63-96) Papers relating to the Constabulary Enquiry Commission, 31 Dec 1919-12 Dec 1921:
- (fols. 63-67) telegram and despatch from Chancellor reporting on the progress of the Commission, 31 Dec 1919-22 Mar 1920
- (fols. 68-87) draft of despatch from Chancellor, giving his views on the Reports of the Commissioners, A.D. Russell, and L.H. Elphinstone (see final item in folder), 13 Oct 1920
- (fols. 88-93) despatch from Milner in reply to the above, congratulating Chancellor on his handling of the situation, and referring to Colonel May's failure to carry out Chancellor's instructions, 3 Feb 1921
- (fols. 94-95) draft of a letter from Chancellor to Grindle about Colonel May, 15 May 1921
- (fol. 96) letter from Grindle to Chancellor about publishing matter dealing with the riots, 16 Jul 1921.
(fols. 97-104) Council Paper No. 121 of 1921, on the Disturbances in Port-of-Spain, Dec 1919, with covering letters from T.A.V. Best, Acting Governor, to Winston Churchill, and from J.E. Masterton Smith to Chancellor, 12 Dec 1921. Documents included in the Paper are as follows:
- Despatch from the Secretary of State, Churchill, to Chancellor, 19 Aug 1921
- report of Mr Justice Russell, 29 May 1920
- report of L.H. Elphinstone, 3 Jun 1920
- report of Col. J.A. Bell-Smyth.
(item 1) Reports by the Commissioners, pp. 127, 20 May-3 Jun 1929.
Dates
- Creation: 1919-1921
Extent
104 Leaves
Language of Materials
- English
Shelfmark
MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 284/4 (2), folder 6
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk