INTRODUCTORY NOTE

Although the events narrated in this book are to a large extent forgotten, they were the subject of hitter controversy when they happened and they involved an issue of first-class importance. The issue between the Government of Sir George Barlow and the E\l1‘()PC'J.11 officers of the Madras Army was essentially :1. simple one. It "wits the question whether the authority of the civil government was to be supreme and its orders to hold good until reversed on appeal or whether the civil government was to be liable to be overridden and overthrown by military force. It might be supposed that to that question there could be but one answer, but in 21 country so remote as India then was, and in the midst of 21 newly founded empire, the decision was by no means secure. Sir George ]3ar10\v’s firm and determined handling of the crisis averted 21 very real danger of military Pronunciamiento.
When the crisis was over and the danger removed, every attempt was nude to obscure the issue. It was admitted that the conduct of the officers could not be defended, but it was argued that Sir George Barlow had himself produced the very evil which he was said to have cured. In order to convict the Governor on this plea, every point in his administration, however irrelevant to the military dispute, was brought in 218 support. The controversy was carried on by letters in the Press (generally anonymous), by pamphlets. by personal intrigue and by minutes and speeches in the
India House and in Parliament.