FORCE IN INDIA.

Auckland Star, Volume LXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1930, Page 7

FORCE IN INDIA.

NOT A REMEDY.

Hope That Public Opinion .Will Solve Problems.

MINISTER'S ADDRESS.

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, June 3.

Mr. Wedgwood Benn, Secretary of State for India, made a pronouncement regarding India when addressing the Imperial Press Conference in London to-day. He said the campaign of civil disobedience, which had been declared to be one of nonviolence,- was bound to lead to clashes, and' unfortunately many such clashes had taken place. The vast majority of the people in India had of course taken no active part in the campaign.

Mr. Benn continued: "It is clearly the duty of any Government in charge of the destinies of a country, and especially a country containing so many varied interests, classes and creeds as India, to maintain public order. Whatever form of Government we adopt as the result of the forthcoming conference and the deliberations of Parliament, it would be a crime to pass on to it a heritage, not only of chaos and disorder, but, what would be far worse, of disrespect for law.

"At the same time it would be shutting one's eyes to facts not to recognise that there is to-day in India, among ail classes and races of the Indian, a very deep feeling and ardent desire for equality of status. It is certainly a most difficult problem that' .has confronted this Commonwealth.

"Among its perplexities two or three points stand out clearly. The first is that force cannot possibly provide a remedy. If the law is to be enforced it is in the Indians' own interests, and force is in no sense applied for the purpose of protecting some British domination.

"The emergency powers taken to deal with the present difficulty will pass with the emergency. The real sanction of, government is public opinion, and it must depend upon this great force in India, as it does elsewhere.

"The solution of these difficulties is ardently to be desired in the Imperial interest. It is no part of. the British policy to carry on the government of India on the principle of divide and rule. The first duty of a good citizen is to do everything in his power to harmonise rival discords, and to avoid adding further to the flames of rival animosities.

"It has been the ardent desire of this Government, no less than of others, to promote between the races a spirit of sympathy and understanding. If the present troubles quicken the conscience of both parties some good may perhaps come of them. The British people are not unresponsive to the great ideals of •the Indian peoples who have an ancient history and selfless and noble instincts.

"Is it too much to hope," he asked, "that the bitterness of the present disagreement may give place to the rebirth .of a mutual understanding and respect?"

SPORADIC UNREST. Indication of Return to Normal. j OFFICIAL REVIEW. I EUGBY, June 3. The India Office issues an appreciation of the situation in India up to May 31. The statement says that the f;ribal situation remains much as it 'Tvas before. The movements of small ■parties of Uteme Khel continue to be Reported, hut hitherto no considerable fathering has been observed hear the porders of the Peshawar district, and 1 10 overt act of hostility has occurred. \

I; The situation in the Peshawar district has been less satisfactory during the past week. On May 26 the arrest of six persons from Takkar village led to a. clash with the police, in which the i.ssistant-Superintendent of Police was kjiHed. On May 29 Takkar village was surrounded by police and troops, and 3<» arrests were effected. Fire was ojpened upon. a cordon of troops by a gathering from- adjacent villages.

I In other parts of India tne outstanding feature of the week has been local disorders at a number of places. At Djicca a tribal quarrel between schoolboys'was the cause of serious disturbances between Hindus and Mohammedans, and the trouble spread to some rufal areas, where incendiarism and looting occurred. The situation _in Dacca itself is now in hand and is improving elsewhere. The casualties may prove considerable. .;

"Che cause of the rioting at Lucknow was the persistent attempt of Congress to; take a procession through part of the station in which processions had not previously been allowed, and were spi cifically forbidden on this occasion. !3n May 26 troops were called out to [ the civil police, but as the situation imed quiet, the troops were allowed to.' return to their barracks. , Almost immediately, however, after their departure a,dangerous mob attacked the poljice station, and attempted to burn it dcwii. j\. severe struggle at close quarters between theih continued for some time, andl the troops later had to fire before tha crowd dispersed. The situation was quickly brought under control, but precautionary measures, have, had to be taien to prevent a recrudescence of the disorder.

On the night of May 26 a' clash occur-, red between the police and Mohammedan', troops in Bombay as a result of an incident in which a sergeant of the pos;ce and a Mohammedan . were concerned. The-police had to fire and the situation during the night necessitated tha calling, out of the troops. There was sonlie recrudescence of the trouble next dar, but it was quickly brought under coijlfcrol, the. troops ■ not being called upon to fire. iji the Bombay Presidency raids on the- salt works have been attempted on sewral occasions during the week, especially at Wadala, near Bombay, whsre efforts of Congress volunteers hai%e become more forcible. Considerable strain has been placed on the police in carrying out arrests and dispersing hostile crowds, but they have successful prevented volunteers from attheir. ve.