Bay of Plenty Times. MONDAY, APRIL 12th., 1937 EASTERN POLITICS

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXV, Issue 12298, 12 April 1937, Page 2

Bay of Plenty Times. MONDAY, APRIL 12th., 1937 EASTERN POLITICS

Political unrest is 'manifest in India and Japan, and there are dangerous'elements apparent in both countries. The now Indian Constitution was a subject of prolonged discussion at round-table conferences in London and in India. and the British Raj made great efforts to iron out the conflicting views of the various parties and groups, and there have been not a few of them. The British Government lias, been concerned in protecting the rights of minorities, and the untouchable, class, at tlie same time preserving" the rights of the ruling princes and the'fendatory rulers. All this lias taken time, and the India Bill

was piloted through the'House of Commons by yir Samuel lloare, now Hirst Lord of the Admiralty. As we understand the measure, a Federation of Provinces has been set up. That is, each Province has its-own Legislature, and sends members to the Federal Parliament, where several interests will be directly represented. Trouble has begun in the Provincial Assemblies. The Congress Party is in the majority in practically all the provincial assemblies, and refuses to accept ministerial .responsibility except on its own terms. The Congress Party wishes to eliminate the British Raj, and secure for India full Dominion status under the Statute of Westminster. The India Act does not, of course, grant this, but it is a first step towards complete selfCovernment. Congress wants to go 1 lie whole distance, while the : British Raj with traditional caution, desires to ■ see India go for- 1 ward.step by step. Although the Act has been framed with extraordinary care, and after the most extensive research into all the known problems involved, it is yet necessary to see bow if works in actual practice. At the first attempt to implement it, trouble has arisen, but that the British Government will eventually emerge supreme no one can doubt. The Congress leaders are prophesying disasters, but that is invariably the outcome of partisanship. So long as the protests by the Indian people do not include violence they my achieve some good. The unrest in Japan is of quite another character. It will be remembered that about two years ago the Tokyo Garrison mutinied and assassinated several prominent politicians because the latter it was alleged, were not helping the military. A new Government was formed, and forthwith started to heckle China, and when a Japanese national was killed in Shanghai, four harsh demands were made cm China, Avhich the latter lints ignored. Moreover, Japan I has been subdued on the Man- | eluirian frontier. A year or two ! ago Japanese soldiers Avcre freI qnently chasing bandits over the ! frontier and attacking Russian i troops. That procedure lias since i been stopped and the Japs are ! now on the defensh'e. The dissoi Intion of the Diet appears to be I due to opposition to defence ex- . penditure which is increasing in l Japan. The budget lias been null balanced for years, the recurring deficits being covered by loans. Taxation is high and the standard of living low. The elections in Japan are to be held towards the end of-the. month.