Yesrerpay's " Manicipal Gaz-cette" contained the report on the condition of the Sikh Police drawn up by Major S. R. Davidson, the officer lent by the Indian Government for the purpose of the investigation into the causes that led up to the overt act of insubordination last July, An accompanying Minute states that Major Davidson "has indicated those parts of the document which he regards as confidential as between himself and the Watch Committee," and in consequence these es are eliminated from the rt as published. This precaution is, without doubt, necessary in the interests of discipline in the Police Force, and the fact that such passages were incorporated in the document is an indication that Major Davidson carried out his investigations conscientiously and was prepared to report on all that came to his notice. His clear statement of the causes leading up to the trouble in the summer carries with it conviction, and it will be noted that the Watch Committee has adopted " unanimously and in their entirety" Major Davidson's recommendations and undertakes to carry them into effect in the manner suggested. The explanation given of the trouble is, on the whole, the most satisfactory one for the peace of mind of the community. It was no longer possible to ignore the fact that something was radically wrong with the Sikh force, and although blame might be distributed freely, there could be no confidence without a thorough inquiry that what was amiss would be rectified. Major Davidson is satisfied that, as far as the Sikhs are concerned, " the conditions of their service in the Shanghai Police are excellent," and further that, although mistakes have been made, the disturbance is to be attributed to the intrigues and quarrelling of native officers and interpreters.
It will be remembered that, as a result of the recommendations of the Police Committee of Inquiry of 1907, it was decided to strengthen the Sikh branch, and a party was sent to India to secure recruits. The investigations of the Committee
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.