The Kohat Findings-I

IN assessing the value of the findings arrived at by the Government of India in regard to the Kohat tragedy, its origin, the circumstances attending it, and the manner in which it was handled, the first thing to be borne in mind is the nature of the enquiry on which they are based. If ever there was an occurrence, which, by reason of its gravity and of its far-reaching consequences, called for the most thorough and searching enquiry by an independent and impartial body enjoying public confidence in the fullest measure, here was one. Such an enquiry was actually demanded by every responsible newspaper in the country, as well as by the public bodies and public men whose representative character no one could deny. The Legislative Assembly itself, as was to be expected, was greatly agitated over the affair, and it is an open secret that the announcement made in the House that the Viceroy had taken up the matter in right earnest and had decided to depute Mr Bray, the Political Secretary, to confer with the Chief Commissioner as to what should be done in the matter, which was generally regarded as a preliminary to be fuller enquiry, was in part a response to the strong feeling of a large number of hon. members, which could not find expression only on account of shortness of notice. In point of fact, however, not only was not the visit of Mr Bray followed by the expected enquiry, but no enquiry worth the name was held either by himself or by Sir Charles Innes who went to Kohat after he had left, or even by the Chief Commissioner.