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5/8/1954 - St. George and The Dragnet by David E. Reed

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS DER May St George Barclays Bank The Dragnet Queensway Nalrobi Kenya Mr Walter S Rogers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Rogers On night Friday April hundred Nairobi leading citizens their uests gathered dining New Stanley Hotel It affair events Everyone there everyone looked quite correct quite alike black dinner Jackets black lapel roses Some hours gigantic drasnet operation would carried All adult Kikuyu those related Meru Embu tribes would seized screening Mau Mau members Several thousand would detalned But Friday St George Day England Day Nairobi Brnch The Royal Society St George holding annual feast As Nalrobi equivalent strin ensemble lackadaisically plucked dinner music diners their through courses aspic cream tomato Kenya meuniere Then pushed their chairs ritual evening Drum music ktchen The swinging doors swung African askaris Kenya police marched tooting their fifes pounding right smart tribal rhythm The drummers wearing leopard aprons their uniforms Behind askarls marched distinguished European citizens wearing cooks aprons their tuxedos lugging stretcher which there chunk roast They marched table African hotel waiters crowded against One roast bearers Sir Charles Mrkham president Nalrobl Branch Mr President The Baron awaits pleasure Take these tankards Mr Carvers Sir Charles replied The carvers doNaed contents sized gulps This right noble Baron Sir Charles declared Let served forthwith The askaris struck rhythm again marched kitchen where Baron Beef would carved Everyone cheered clapped Those African waiters thirfl crazy J H E Jimmy Smart Deputy Town Clerk Nairobi Smart practical little sentiment He talks talks frankly In fashion U S executive slams telephone finished conversation He works complicated business running writes He turned history Nairobi working novel about Kenya But though practical hurried still Englishman though scoffs Baron would never St George Day dinner In arrangements committee St George Day Fourth July minus rootin tootln sootln aspects St George patron Saint England Just St Andrew Scotland St David Wales St Patrick other place And St George Day Englishmen together wherever drink heartily another invig orating draught English tradition Libations plentiful New Stanley dinner evenin toasts cheer flowed Some EnEland years never there But would meyer forget Englishmen There slick Nairobi lawyers businessmen Colonial Service officers Army officers India Judges policemen sunburned upcountry farmers Toasts proposed Queen Duke Edinburgh England The Immortal Memory Shakespeare Other Illustrious Englishmen Eugllshwomen And there songs Heart ships heart We always ready steady steady We fight conquer again again General Sir George Ersklne Commander Chief East Africa speech paying customary banquet tribute branch Security Forces fighting Mau Mau He found congratulations Royal East African Navy wh6se contribution consists providing guards Athi River Iu Iu detention The Acting Governor Kenya Sir Frederick Crawford Th Gove Sir velyn Baring Egl treatment described tropical ailment there indefinitely words Kenya England cleared throat Mau Mau situation My solution future based administrative experience District Officers Police Officers Agricultural Officers closer tighter flrmr system administration eventually development troubled areas group I greater prospect success merely shutting beiug thousands suspects although worst cleared while peace order being restored Harry Bridget Nairobi City Engineer gather around merrier In proposing toast guests pointed Irishmen Scotsmen Welshmen Quite warrin tribes toniEht That about English iustead annihilation education instead warfare welfare Then looking around African waiters Kikuyu Who knows warring tribes around might couple years When laughter Bridget spotted couple Americans I trans Atlantic friends tonight Another warrin He scratched looked bewildered Only trouble Then brightening But depths misery poverty because deprived benefits British Finally bottles hours aspic everyone Londonderry Air Irish guests Sarle Marais South Africans Loch Lomond Scots Men Harlech Welsh Then everyone stood rigid attention hands trouser seams frequently glistening God Save The Queen It Just before party finally pushed night started Along Kingsway Just Princess Elizabeth Highway first indications Kenya Government getting ready attempt slaying tenacious dragon Dozens heavy Army trucks drawn darkness African British soldiers bayonets fixed their rifles roused waiting trucks Operation Anvil called about All estimated adult Kikuyu Embu Meru tribesmen Nairobi seized screened Those regarded suspicious those forged Irregular identity cards would shipped without trial newly detention camps At start Anvil government spokesman would probably camps When beiunlng settle weeks later disappeared Nairobi these camps The followed St George Day Kikuyu would forget More British African troops poised around early morning hours Saturday All police police reservists loyal African guards mobilized Even Royal Air Force providing guards transport The troops oolice struck quickly First cordoned Kikuyu locations Ba Pumwani The sleeping inhabitants Bshati roused Identity papers faces scrutiulzed screening teams consisting three District Officers three Lbor Officers olice reservists A total passed front Bahati screeners Of these three Judged F A Failed Anvil The foreheads F A daubed paint identification Then taken trucks reception Langata Nairobi Road signs dlrectln steady trucks proper routes already sprung The detainees leave their possessions behind These packed gunny sacks marked owners names storage How screeners decide would would Anvil Am official failed because forged irregular identity cards There other factors To I mention For instance Kikuyu History Employment Card showed irregular employment Jobs months indication stable Another example Kikuyu houses Nalrobi Mau Mau intrigue Naturally their employees under suspicion And headmen tribal police While Anvil progress Bahati other forces cordoned Grogan Road Nairobi grabbed To Langata Pumwanl remained cordoned Saturday The screeners Before To Langat Tea served location So brewed water engine called provide In searching Pumwanl Kikuyu found hiding water They standing water hours Reports employers hiding Kikuyu their shops homes One Kikuyu found under other sacks Asian Proceedings taken against Asian authorities Anvil rumored Kenya security precautions Europeans Asians exactly coming Meanwhile Bahatl screeners still Sunday They checked final To Lanata At start Anvil tight cordon thrown around Nairobi All roads blocked troops police patrelled perimeters During weeks caught cordon Langata Another O00 Kikuyu coming denied entrance Police spotter planes patrolled forth watching escaping across fields Meanwhile Kikuyu Meru Embu forbidden icycles amove aimed cutting their mobility Throughout Anvil there interference troops pelice comings goings Africans other tribes Only Kikuyu their Meru Embu relatives wanted Approximately Kikuyu women children dependents detained Kikuyu Reserve trains Sunday They guarded tribal elders tribal policemen Whereas submitted meekly Anvil women danced defiantly whenever hurled train windows anata built O00 designed reception center The Sunday Screening operations Saturday Sunday produced total Another revealed picked smaller police operations before start Anvil taken Lanata That total Sunday OO0 already camps Mackinnon Road Manyanl R G Turnbull Minister Security Defense public statement saying There question picking Kikuyu Meru Embu removing What propose select among those whose presence Nairobi enabling gangsters intimidate African public ordinary processes If prove harmless misguided released If however considered purpose maintainin order necessary detain detained Emergency Regulations The people after wells pockets corner Nairobi equivalents A1 Capone Dilllnger Then would detained those suspected assistiug terrorists withholding assistance police General Erskine spoke radio Sunday saying The public suffer inconvenience result largescale screening operation assured unless there isstrong suspicion against Kikuyu Embu Mru arrested wlthin If employees return Monday assume investigations being shown implicated Mau Mau movement If removed further investigations which complete Few employers prepared admit themselves there possible doubt loyalty their servants I respect standing those their employment experience taught again Kikuyu Meru Embu respected salaried posts active cooperation terrorist movement Other Government spokesmen cited certain indisputabl facts The Kikuyu terrorizing other tribes along Mau Mau plans The boycott imposed September backed Mau Mau vengeance example Kikuyu gangsters African locations Nairobi become convenient source recruits ammunition money Mau Mau It provided opportunity Mau Mau proselytize among other tribes Anvil continued point public attention diverted threatened become international incident On Saturday publicly disclosed captain Kenya Regiment soldiers raided office Commissioner Government India The Commissioner India diplomatic representative British East Central Africa office usual diplomatic immunity Prime Minister Nehru Delhi affair grave nature while blizzard cables forth between London Delhi Nairobi The Kenya Government official explanati captain searching alley behind Commissioners Duke Street office entered office through backdoor knowing The Government allewed Kenya Regiment unruly wrote stupidity captain General Erskine personally Acting Commissioner RaJ Erlshna Tandon His predecessor Apa Pant recalled recently The Indian Government years assignment overdue There stron suggestion denled officially recalled request London because considered British attitude apologized Actin Governor Craford apologized An official Commissioner office Tanden account About captain eutered offices spread through rooms An Indian official dlplomatic office T language He should return Tandon making arrangements Uganda participate official reception Queen The soldiers instead ahead searchin rooms They broke locked doors cipher scattered papers around What lookin Indian asked We lookin Mau Mau behind Mau Mau captain replied One Indian official threateued bayonet others threatened being pushed roughly An Indian telephoned Defense Minister office happening They captain phone The captain Indian Tandon arrived tried captain captain would listen So Tamdon telephoued Government House Crawford residence Crawford private secretary happening The etary Crawford could phone suggested Taudon contact evening Tandon classic exercise polite diplomatic secretary since incident happened would attend Queen functions Uganda Crawford agreed Tandon immediately Tandon Government House Crawford apologized military civil officials Tandon office The Kenya Regiment retreated takin Africans employed office Thus informant account In London Henry Hopklnson Minister State Colonial Affairs Commous I should opportunity express British Goverument regret unfortunate incident Tandon Ugauda welcome Queen Pandit Nehru Delhi meauwhile reported incident lower house Indian Parliament He house Crawford offered humbl apologies Crawford promised inquiry Back Nairobi Kenya Regiment described spirited chuckled exploit They found Africans locked various rooms Commissioner office proved Indians hidin Mau Mau My informant admit locked washroom would appear least there usual purpose Kenya Europeans general chuckled Behind their factors seated mistrust India which think wants excess Africa ruination their economic political position belief bolstered these fears local overseas Indians scheming Mau Mau drive Europeans Hate ordislike overriding feeling among Europeaus They something Boston Tea R The Kenya Gover nment seems taken affair rather light fashion One efficial plans inquiry incident dropped Nehru acceptance Crawford apology No action taken against captain other verbal reprimand It simply matter captain stupidity official Crawford reluctance telephone Tandon called strange The official mentioned above confirmed Crawfor reluctance saying Cawford The Governor I evenlng Indian Commissioner insisted Governor official Yet seems unusual Governor would interested breach diplomatic immunity colony However appears deliberate captain concerned He apparently motivsted desire K muscles front menacing Indians Or perhaps thought alvely would evideuce Indian complicity Mau Mau establish himself The Government about lo6ate Africans taken Commissioner office Two Kikuyu located released Then Kikuyu found Langata screened released That Langata Government couldn With nearly Camp commanders repeated loudspes appeals But forward The continue Tandon dropped whole matter Interviews refused press offlce account furnished Anvil meanile coutinued grind dross The Nairobiperi urban areas drauetted Tuesday Langat Another O00 followed Thursday Nairobi industrial combed Then Friday target forest residential areas Karen Ngong miles Nairobl I house Nong I Just leavin drive dozen heavily armed British soldiers Kenya Regiment What tribe servants officer asked I Joseph Oriko houseboy Kakamegas Samuell shamba gardener Kikuyu We officer When I moved house people urged Samueli I wouldn Kuke arotud never sneak But I Samueli Africaus vowel their Christian names about worked successive tenants house three years It Job Like Kikuyu industrious seven clock morning would always trimmin hedges grass pruning trees planting flowers wagin encroaching white antso He Job Again Kikuyu saved every His possessions ragged raincoat couple pairs shorts raged shirts shoes which while shoes being repaired Samueli seemed afraid Mau Mau karis never rounds The other servants would Samueli ambition become houseboy He would spend hours helping houseboy learn those Jobs But appearance against Kenya employers concerned He villainous And although industrious great share intelligence tribe He English carry Swahill conversation Europeans He tried respect Whenever I kitchen servauts eating alone would always attention I officer these things I while I agreed could certainty isuMau I thought Samueli If right officer Come I Samueli would He nodded expression spread I Swahili affair affair Government It affair Kikuyu officer broke angrily Samuell tattered It consisted strips European raincoat Samueli forget shoes The officer walked lightly falling Samuell padded along behind At I telephoned house Nairobi The Samuell returned He added after I soldiers returned searched servants quarters Late afternoon I drove police station where taken inquiries The barbed compound empty A bright young African constable brought there Of these failed Lanata No constable noticed Samueli particular There others there Samueli Langata I brought Samueli shoes Jackets shillings I Samueli weeks I Lter I asked European official I could No The dragnet moved Kabete Spring Valley areas Saturday The screeners checked Kikuyu Lngata On Sunday Asian residential areas checked The screeners Langata That Sunday I moved house returned Norfolk Hotel The lobby deserted Everyone behind hotel hearin bursts 6unfire Three askaris killed Kikuyu broke through cordon The askaris found small quantity ammunition pockets It first casualty Anvil Quite Kikuyu faces missing among hotel servants Katoto I always orked hotel years Ni kamata Bwana others He caught Ymau dining waiter Ni kamata Bwana And others whose names I Some still there among Tumbo Stomach bartender highest Africans hotel receives shillings month They I asked Bado kldoo A llttl later flourish buffoonery delight white This I Langata which situated plains Royal Nairobi National Par It sunny purle Ngong Hills stood sharply against cloudless A giraffe nibbling upper branches I passed reserve The adjutant police reservist He sullen described There there Another Mackinnon Eoad Manyani The purpose Just I asked released Langata Twenty Twenty No They Home Guards nabbed mistake Well separate really Just The adjutant wanted identified finger prints And prisoners paraded front screening teams front three Africans wearing Klu Klux Klan hoods conceal their identity The hooded picked Mau Mau adjutant If three hooded flner particular prlsoner enough There safeguards Two fingers required Out screened identifled Mau Mau activists I asked hooded The adjutant wouldn hinted might planted Mau Mau movement earlier police undercover agents A earlier I visitor asked hooded Oh I They Just I picked Mau Mau would visitor quoted hooded sayln6 Be those selected hooded detained under Governor Order That means perled their lives The others Mackinnon Road Mauyani further screening The adjutant I drove around standlng hanin precariously swiugiu Bren mounted there The adjutant pointed reception where incomin prisoners searched Then bounced screeni A group Africans squatting hands their heads waiting viewed masked Don masked makes nervous strange Europeans around adjutant The squatting Africans heavily uarded askaris rifles clubs Outside company askaris wearing boots sandals barefooted marched African sergeant alongside bellowing commands Swahili The loudspeaker system blaring musical selections Among French La Ronde Then series small barbed holding tents They identified administrators Mau Mau executioners treasurers other types adjutant Some prisoners glared Others laugh Joking among themselves I looked around Samueli I Next larger which contained hundreds tents thousands The sitting around sullen laughing talking washing clothes golntoMackinnonRoadandManyani theadjutant Our embarkation There several hundred loaded trucks taken nearby waitin train Mackinnon Road nyani The prisoners being driven trucks double A European stood tailgate truck being loaded He snarling lunging Doberman pinscher leash prisoners dally It those frequently Kenya trained attack Africans When truck British soldiers rifles fixed bayonets would climb would station himself Then truck would would loading Near trucks Kikuyu sitting ground holding small children Those picked Anvil I They their children No women around We couldn leave children street A portly European bustlin around tying children clothes She welfare department She going children their mothers The Africans carried children She drove Then herded Yes adjutant saying Mau Mau operation His Europeans One The other commandantA regular police officer reserv They farmers lawyers merchants businessmen Journalists everything could think I Back Nairobi I asked official being released L angata Fifteen De I asked No I This necessarily attempt The often right doing I asked would hppen Ma cklruon Road Langata He under decree Just issued Government could there months They would screened further those camps would divided whites grays blacks The whites those found perfectly right They released returned Nairobi If Nalrobi employment Reserves He estimated would group The those played minor roles Mau Mau They camps Kikuyu Reserve This compulsory prevailing local rates Gangs build roads schools ntour terracing perform other benefit tribe The blacks those Judged Mau Mau receive Governor detention orders They Join several thousand already orders Privileges better wages their labor given those desire cooperate official He wound saying spoken commandant Manyani before commandant morale among detainees seemed cooperative With screening Karlokor locatiou Lanata Makadara location Lanata large scale phase Anvil Nineteen thousand Kiku Meru Embu Langata during operation With preceded result police operations before April total stood The adult population these tribes Nairobl reduced third Six thousand children three thousand women reserves But thoughthe large scale phase Anvil itself continue Hany thousands picked period officia Four thousand troops cannot Nalrobi there fought upcountry One effect Auvil wages risen With there shortage labor Employers higher wages attract replacements House servants demauding money Cases reported where small concerns raided other staffs offerin hiher But happen Africans other tribes advantage bonanza these wages likely again least Because Kikuyu employees normal business governmental operations services Nairobi affected appears crippled However organization always scrape along while short labor force effects become apparent With Anvil crime lowest levels history Nairobi For instance whereas seven murders attempts occurred April April discovered since Africans other tribes Kikuyu Tribalism still strong Kenya The boycott appreciably future In general Europeans Africans other tribes breathing easier Anvil policeman dream Plenty Chicago would delighted solve their crime problem locking large segment lowest class But Chicago things Constitution civil liberties 4agna Carta hands Civil rights extend colony though hings often aside Nalrobl crime certainly hangout Mau ordinary hoodlums other degraded types Setting aside question Justice protecting innocent Anvil dragnet tempting solution There doubt Mau terrorists caught dra6net where belong But there doubt either other Kikuyu probsbly majority starin behind barbed Few latter group completely innocent connection Mau Mau Most perhaps Kikuyu taken least Mau Mau But future planning important Many oaths because forced Death alternative Others probably heartedly because presented fashionable intriguing devilment The probably consists thousand Those outer fringe legion The outer fringe should considered redeemable because realistic appreciation staggerin6 fifth colony total population This destruction would result outer fringe becoming white Nationalist white feelings deeply ingrained almost every Kikuyu But leadership outer frlnge would likslihood lapse least bein6 bitter violent Mau Mau years Mau Mau 6ained objective ouster Europeans tribe misery There indications Kikuyu would But because Mau Mau executloner always Just around corner If removed skilled patient administration redress legitimate Kikuyu grievances might masses around better Now though large numbers outer fringe locked without trial without having committed crime except Kiku It difficult their imprisonment produce anything deeper bitterness exacerbated white feelings desires revene short material future Mau Maus Government officials their public statements underestimate One hears example morale being Manyanl PubliclY matter treated almost onebi cricket match Really chaps wouldn cricket After fault Public statements thing One impression though Government decided hands Kikuyu The settlers demanding drastic action officials share feelin frustration uncertai because Mau Mau lasted The screened Pumwanl practically released Langata shows Government intend careful check Rather strike strong Mauuby drastically reducing Kikuyu population Nairobi Possibly desire teach lesson figured Collective punlshment often Our orders would Get Army officer While Europeans hollered their servants taken voice raised against principle Anvil One asked public meeting Wht multitude Africans lounging behind barbed contributed financially toward Emergency There several thousands owned cattle bicycles shops lorries Eas property confiscated Most Europeans still think solve Mau Mau tough Germans South Africans But would public opinlon officials United Kingdom would never tolerate methods Yet Europeans still refuse alternative approach Auvil certainly beneficial short But Government become recrultin serseant Mau Mau The Kikyu tribe giant Kenya scene hands pesty giants particularly What could The Government could attacked social problems played roles Mau Iu Efforts always these problems energy money could In Nairobi housin programs could speeded Wages could raised higher statutory minimum receutly raised from5l shillings Some means political ession could provided Africans Soap Box Square Recreational facilities could expanded Good police could substituted dragnets communal punishment And police protection could afforded African locations These might might helped In Reserves there other problems could tackled Thought could given political sorespot Kenya White Highlands Perhaps Africaus could allowed farms there worked under rigid standards The statement always housing programs money But Emergencies Kenya which started month Emerg expenditure shelling month Treasury officials warned fi6ure climb still hiher That misht U S budget represents considerable country The Emergency surplus Despite Britain increases Kenya still faced million deficit coming fiscal Harry Bridget Joke facetious assuming color cultural differeuces aside seems unlikely warring tribe St George Day dinner The tremendous widening There warfare little welfare Crawford closer administration might solve problem Government caught Mau Mau officials Reserves might better should there But touch basic problem Jimmy Smart I sounds corny going African instead indifference But volce Sincerely Dvid E Reed