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

88 For Embassy, Washington. consul-General, New York. Dominion Immigration agt Vancouver San Francisco, Cal. January 24th 1916 Sir: with reference to my despatches of the 31st December 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 contained in my memorandum of this date, he informed me that he was anxious to be definitely retained for Government service. 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, explaining that he was an intimate friend of RamChandra. 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 mewhich 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 can be depended upon, his information is very valuable 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 represents 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 rather 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