Acknowledges Cranborne's letter of 18 July; will correspond as freely with him as if he had known him personally; famine in Orissa, and parts of Bengal and Bihar, and measures for its relief; has been forced to take over management of Bahawalpur; policy towards Afghanistan and Russia 'suicidal' t...
Acknowledges Cranborne's letter of 3 August; gives at length political, practical and especially financial reasons for opposing construction of road from Rangoon through independent Burma to China; believes cost would be out of all proportion to benefits and would fall entirely on Indian public r...
Famine situation in Bengal and Orissa; believes railways should have priority over Burma road, and that feeders to existing lines should have priority over construction of new main lines; more important than either is irrigation which Lawrence believes will prove profitable (unlike railways); exp...
With Strachey's help has effected satisfactory settlement of the Oudh taluqdari question unanimously approved by his Council; no part of his administration will give him greater pleasure than this; does not himself think taluqdars will lose much, except that what they formerly gave as a favour, w...
Refers to Cranborne's letter of 3 August, and gives reasons against appointment of Special Councillor in charge of Public Works Dept; comments on membership and working of Governor-General's Council; if Cranborne decides in favour, will try to make it work; suggests appointment of Col (Sir) R Str...
Survey of India's financial position; Massey right in thinking there is annual deficit of £1 million; likely to be great differences in Council on subject, and Lawrence wishes to obtain Cranborne's views; reasons for opposing increase in salt tax; rise in wages largely confined to vicinity of ra...
[Refers to Cranborne's letter of 17 August]; describes action taken to carry out plan for redress of officers' grievances; no objection to title of Prince of Arcot for Azim Jah, but financial arrangements proposed for him are too generous India cannot afford 'to give large incomes to broken down ...
Raises point of detail regarding settlement of officers' grievances; settlement generally well received though doubtless there will still be some discontent; has no idea of overall cost.