V.D. Bagai's Report Cited in SF Hindu–German Conspiracy Trial Proceedings
In San Francisco, Bagai worked closely with the British Consulate, spying on the activities of the Gadar Movement in California under the guise of being a committed member of Gadar Party. On July 8, 1917, the San Francisco Examiner reported, “Federal grand jury indicted 105 persons [Ghadar members as well as German operatives] for plotting here a rebellion in India.” During a police raid of the Gadar headquarters in San Francisco, all staff members were arrested.
However, Vaishno Das Bagai, a close friend of Ram Chandra and the finance manager of the Gadar Party, was never charged or mentioned by the prosecution during the Hindu–German Conspiracy Trial, which took place from November 20, 1917 to April 24, 1918.
Bagai escaped prosecution, having provided assistance to two prominent British intelligence officers — Norman Thwaites and Robert Nathan — who collaborated with Carnegie Ross and played instrumental roles in aiding the U.S. Bureau of Investigation (BOI) during the trial. Operating under the alias “Alleyne Ireland,” Thwaites passed along key intelligence from informant Bagai, exposing Gadar Party internal activities and finance details.
Nathan, using the alias “Hale” and drawing on his experience as a retired Indian Police officer, was seated beside U.S. Attorney John Preston throughout the trial, offering strategic insights and confidential reports (compiled by Thwaites). Vaishno Das Bagai played an instrumental role in helping the British crush the Ghadar Movement by identifying party finances, leadership roles, and various party activity details which were used in the trial that led to the conviction of 29 individuals.
Among those found guilty were 14 Indian nationals who were sentenced to lengthy periods of incarceration. These convictions ultimately broke the back of the Ghadar Movement’s dream of freeing India from British rule, delaying the inevitable by forty years.
Transcription
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U. S. Atty
REPORT FORM NO. 1
REPORT MADE BY: Don S. Rathbun
PLACE WHERE HADE: San Francisco
TITLE OF CASE AND OFFENSE CHARGED OR NATURE OF MATTER UNDER INVESTIGATION:
IN RE: U. S. VS. C. C. CROWLEY, et al. Neutrality Matter.
DATE MADE: Mar.14,1916
PERIOD FOR WHICH NADE: Mar.10,1916
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS, EVIDENCE COLLECTED, NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF PERSONS INTERVIEWED, PLACES VISITED, ETC.
At San Francisco, Calif.
Received information from Mr. Ireland last night that a
Hindu named Vaishno Das Bagai has an account in the Union Trust
Company of San Francisco of approximately $5000 and another account
in the Savings Union Bank & Trust Company of San Francisco of
approximately $4000, which moneys are as a matter of fact the
property or trust funds of Ram Chandra, a Hindu who is editor of
"The Hindustan Gadar", and who is carrying on the work which Har
Dyal formerly carried on in San Francisco. According to Mr. Ireland's
information the above mentioned funds are kept in the name of
Bagai so that they cannot be traced into the hands of Chandra, but
Bagai procures portions of these funds and turns them over to Chandra
whenever the latter wishes.
Agent today called at the above banks for the purpose of
verifying this information. Was advised by the Union Trust Company
that they would furnish no information without a subpoena. Mr. Day
of the Savings Union Bank & Trust Company made an examination of the
records of this bank and advised Agent that Bagai has a savings
account of approximately $4000, but that it appears to be an accu-
mulating account and does not show any material withdrawals.
COPY OF THIS REPORT FURNISHED TO:
U. S. Atty. S. F. -4-
References
- National Archives, Special Agent-in-Charge Don S. Rathbun, BOI Report ‘In re: US v. Crowley et al., Neutrality Investigation,’ 14 March 1916, San Francisco, 1, Box No. 20, RG 118, NA–PSR.