Confidential Dispatch: Carnegie Ross on the Employment of Vaishno Das Bagai as a British Informant

Copy letter from Carnegie Ross (San Francisco British Consulate) to the Viceroy and Governor-General of India regarding Vaishno Das Bagai’s informant services to the British Government on Indian activities in San Francisco. Bagai first contacted the Consul on October 19th, offering information on “Indian activities in San Francisco.” He claimed to have been employed in India under Mr. J.R. Adam, Secretary of the Inspector General of Police at Peshawar, and stated he was an intimate friend of Ram Chandra.

The dispatch records that Bagai called on Ross on January 22nd and offered information contained in a memorandum of that date. He said he wanted to be definitely retained for government service. Ross also noted that Bagai had previously arranged a grant of 700 rupees from Mr. Adam before leaving India, and that Bagai’s proposed work would be unpleasant and better preserved if he were not directly attached to the Consulate.

Ross wrote that he had contacted the Inspector General of Police at Peshawar to verify Bagai’s claims. He reported that his initial understanding of Bagai’s motive was incorrect and that Bagai appeared to be reliable, but that his usefulness would be reduced if made a formal Consulate employee. Bagai proposed a monthly salary of $100 gold, roughly equal to the local salary of a first-class commercial employee, and planned to spend half a day in Ross’s office and half at his current clerk position.

According to the dispatch, Bagai intended to remain in San Francisco for at least three months while waiting for a reply. He said he might then go to England to settle down. Ross concluded that Bagai’s information was valuable if dependable, but that the arrangement should be handled carefully.

Transcription

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For Embassy, Washington.                                            88
Consul-General, New York.
Dominion Immigration agt Vancouver

                                    San Francisco, Cal.

                                                January 24th, 1916

            Sir:

                  With reference to my despatches of the 31st Decem-
            ber and 24th January containing information from V. D. 
            Bagai, I have to say that this man called on me on the 
            22nd instant, and after giving me the information contain-
            ed in my memorandum of this date, he informed me that he 
            was anxious to be definitely retained for Government ser-
            vice.

                  Regarding the above, I beg to submit the following 
            Statement: Mr. Bagai called on me on the 19th October 
            and told me he had been employed in India, under Mr. J.R. 
            Adam, Secretary of the Inspector General of Police at 
            Peshawar and offered me to give me any information he 
            could regarding Indian activities in San Francisco, ex-
            plaining that he was an intimate friend of Ram Chandra.

                  with the object of obtaining information regarding the 
            veracity and standing of Bagai, I wrote to the Inspector 
            General of Police at Peshawar. I have since heard from 
            him in a letter dated December 8th. It appears that I some 
            what misunderstood the object of Mr. Bagai's visit to me 
            which was to fulfil a promise made by him to Mr. Adam to 
            supply him with information in return for a grant of 700 
            rupees, given by Mr. Adam to Bagai before he left India.

            I am desirous of correcting any misapprehension which 
            might have occurred through my mis-understanding of Bagai's 
            motive in coming to see me. It appears to me that if he 

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            he can be depended upon, his information is very valu-
            able He says that if it is not found convenient to give 
            him a monthly retainer, it is his intention to leave San 
            Francisco and go to England and settle down there. I 
            told him that I would refer the matter to Your Excellency, 
            but that he could not expect to get a reply within three 
            months, and he has decided to remain here at least for 
            that period. Apparently he has mentioned to Mr. Adam, a 
            monthly salary of $100 Gold, equal to about 220. This re-
            presents the local salary of a first class commercial 
            employee. In return for this, he suggested he would spend 
            one half of the day in my office and the other half where 
            he is at present working as a clerk at a salary of about 
            $80 per month. His usefulness as an informant would be 
            very much lessened if he were to be directly attached to 
            the Consulate, but as the work he proposes to do is ra-
            ther unpleasant, he might not care to undertake it for 
            less than the amount he mentions.

                     I have the honour to be,
                           Sir,
                            Your obedient
                              humble servant,
                                 (Signed) A. CARNEGIE ROSS
                                    H. B. M. Consul-General.