A MURDEROUS CONSPIRACY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 32, 7 February 1910, Page 5

A MURDEROUS CONSPIRACY.

SEDITION IN INDIA.

CURBING THE NATIVE PRESS. (By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 8.15 a.m.) LONDON, February 6. Sir Herbert Hope Eisley, Home Secretary to the Government of India, in submitting to the Viceroy's Council a Press Bill, enabling local governments, without prosecutions, to suppress newspapers which are mischievous though not technically seditious, gave a startling picture, including details of the newspapers' antiBritish propaganda among the youth, from whom the great body of Civil servants of India are drawn, and the manner in which peaceful villages are invaded by preachers of political murders and sedition. He added: "We are confronted by a murderous conspiracy." The bill provides that newepapers started hereafter must make a deposit of £333. Existing journals are exempt, unless they offend. No censorship is provided for, but Customs and postal authorities are entitled to search for suspected matter. The deposit will be forfeited on repetition of the offence unless an appeal to the High Court is successful. The "Chronicle" urges that care should be taken in the definition of offences like attempts to excite racial and class and religious animosity and hatred. It adds that Sir H. H. Risley's account of the widespread anarchical propaganda is very striking. When incendiary articles are part and parcel of murderous act* it is merely moonshine to talk heroics about the freedom of the Press. The "Daily News" says that no Indian editor will be able to print a single adverse comment upon the administration of the Government's policy or officials' actions. If the revolution is driven underground the peril will be incalculable. The "Pioneer" (Allahabad) says that Sir EL H. Risley's indictment is the strongest possible condemnation of the Government, which had allowed the mischief and the corruption of the public mind to reach the state described in the bill. The Madras native paper "Hindu" declares that the innovation now sought is an executive interference with the discharge of the legitimate functions of the Press, and that the bill is a gross infringement of the rights of the people. Anglo-Indian newspapers warmly support the bill and deny that single bona fide liberty is assailed.