UNREST IN INDIA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19917, 2 May 1930, Page 15

UNREST IN INDIA.

GOVERNMENT'S POLICY REITERATED. BOYCOTT OF BRITISH CLOTH. (tjhitzd raasa association— bi electric! WtiUGBAPH—COPYJtfOHT.) (Received May lit, 9.40 p.m.) DELHI, May 1"So long as the law " °P enlv defied, neither the Viceroy nor the Government can do anything but resist its subversion by whatever means that may ba in their power." This reiteration of the Government's policy dealing with the civil disobedience movement is contained in a letter from the Viceroy to Mr Mahomed Ali, a prominent Moslem leader, who sent a telegram to the Viceroy suggesting that a rapprochement might be sought to bring about a peace honourable to both the Government and to Gandhi. Mr Ali had appealed to the Viceroy not to permit the sifcuution to become graver by the arrest of Gandhi, as both Gandhi and the Government bad made a sufficient demonstration of their strength. The Viceroy's reply reminds Mr An where the responsibility lies for the present situation, and Concluded with a statement that the policy of the Government in regard to a solution of India's difficulties remains unchanged. Devidas, the son of Gandhi, was sentenced to a year's imprisonment at New Delhi, on a charge of sedition. The movement for the boycott of British cloth is being intensified throughout India, and Hindu cloth dealera in Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, and other principal cities have decided not to place further orders till the end of the year. .The action of Nationalist volunteers In picketing cloth shops and preventing the sale of British goods is creating dissatisfaction among Moslem dealers, most of whom are exposed to the boycott. The Amritsar traders' Arbitration Board considered the situation arising out of the boycott, and carried a resolution, which was sent to the Viceroy, drawing attention to the fact that merchants were repudiating contracts while others were panie-stric-en, os account of the severe local trade depression.

GANDHI TO BE ARRESTED. CABINET GIVES ITS CONSENT. (Received May Ist, 7.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 1. It is reported that Cabinet has consented to the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi in the event of the Viceroy considering it to be necessary. The arrest is regarded as imminent.