THE EMPIRE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 45, 16 November 1907, Page 12

THE EMPIRE.

GYROSCOPE FOR INDIA.

Tho first full-sized gyrqscopo train will make its initial run in India, lor Mr. Louis Brennnn, tho inventor, has received a grant of £GOOO from tho Indian Govcrnmont.

The course of tho now railway has already been decided on, and a routo hns been mapped out whero tho wonderful mono-rail train can run orer the plains and up the mountain side at a rate which it is estimated will bo more than a hundred miles an hour. Tho work of designing tho first "tight-ropo train" is to bo carried out in tho secret Bronnan torpedo works at Gillingham, close to tho inventor's homo.

Tho news that tho Indian Government is so confident of tho success of tho gyroscopic train has directed tho attention of tho authorities of most of tho colonies to tho possibilities of the mono-rail. Deputations from all parts of tho world havo lately visited Mr. Brennnn, and inspected the modcU railway which runs round tho grounds of his Kontish home.

A party of representatives of African railway companies and tho Trado Commissioner from the Capo watched the trial recently, and saw a full-grown man whirled safely to and fro in a tiny gyroscope train round tho lawn. Tho weight of a man represented forty tons on a full-size train, but tho carriage balanced on tho rail never onco lost its stability for a moment, oven when running at express speed. "Wo aro making distinct progress, and we hopo to do better still," said Mr. Louis Bronnan.

"Our experiments for the first Indian line aro now being made, and, although I do not at present intend to go out to tho East, my representative will leave soon to superintend tho work. "Our first trains will bo small and not so very conventional in appearance but very soon wo hopo to make them travelling hotels. Size is no object in a gyroscopic train, and wo anticipate running cars fitted up as theatres and restaurants beforo long." BRITISH DIPLOMACY. Most of the newspapers comment "on Sir Wilfrid LaurierV reference to Canada's experience of British diplomacy which tho'Premier mado at the banquet of tho Canadian Manufacturers' Association at Toronto. The "Montreal Witness," in a leading article on the subject, says:— % / "Sir Wilfrid Laurior in no way exaggerated tho extent to which Canada has almost uniformly suffored through British diplomacy as regards questions botweori herself and the United States. On tho other hand, we have never been able to hold with Mr. E. Blake and Sir Wilfrid Laurior that Canada should take over her own diplomacy in matters othor than those such as the Froneh commorci.il treaty, which could not involve any Imperial dispute." y The "Witness" goes on to say that Canada now negotiates with the force of tho Empire behind her. Timo was whon she had no voico in negotiation. Canada should get all the advantage that any superior knowledge or acumen may give her, but sho has to acknowledge that there aro threo interests in all hor disputes, and that tho dominant ono is Imperial. While not contributing to Imperial power, sho has a small claim to have her separate interests considered. Tho "Witness" adds:— ■ ■ , ,'

"We, no doubt, could manage things far hotter than Downing Street, so long as wo were blessed with the Premier's (Sir Wilfrid Laurier's) sunny ways, but wo question if in the most recent caso wo should havo' coine off any bettor had wo not\had the British power bohind us. But Sir Wilfrid Laurier has considered the question nioro than any other man. Ho sees his own way. Sir F. Borden is with him, and tho surfaeo of the sentimont of tho country is behind them. Yet wo think .that tho cotintry is walking blindfold whither she does not know." NEWFOUNDLAND VIVENDI. In a leading article dealing with "Newfoundland's Grievance," tho Toronto "News" declares that "It scorns a 'reasonable inference that the modus vivendi agreed upon between tho British Government and the Government of tho United States oporates as an unconstitutional suspension of the statuto law of Newfoundland, affecting fishin gwithin its territorial waters by American fishermen." After discussing the past and presont action of the British Government, the journal quoted sums up tho situation in those words:—

"Thus, at tho instigation and requost of a foreign Government, tho, British Government practically authorises the; colonial subjects of tho King's Government in Newfoundland to go outside tho territorial jurisdiction of that Government and assist tho alien citizens of a foreign Government to evade and violate the statute law of that Government, thus degrading constitutional government respect for its laws in tho oyes of its own colonial subjects, and also publicly before the citizens and Governments of foreign nations; and by so doing authorising and encouraging a state of anarchy within a colony governed by British constitutional authority and law." INDIAN UNREST. Another Calcutta sensation is provided in the arrest of Mr. A. C. Bannerji, a' leading barrister and municipal commissioner, on a charge of delivering seditious speeches. Mr. Bannerji took a leading part in the organisation of tho boycott, Ins house being the headquarters of picketing parties. : His last public apnoaranco was on Wodnosday, when, in conjunction with : Mr. Surcndranath Bannerji, ho addressed a largo.mooting to sympathise with Bopin Chandra Pal. Mearjwhile the polico investigation into the recent riots in Eastern Bengal are almost at a standstill owing to tho dilliculty iu procuring evidence. Even in,Sherpur, where a large mob attacked the punitive polico barracks and were not driven off until four persons had been killed and others wounded, difficulty was oxporiencod in identifying any of the persons who had boon present. A Bengali newspaper asserts that the local Zemindar is suspected of complicity in the affair.

A momber of tho firm of Messrs McDowell and Co., of Madras, has stated that the unrest in India bad caused, for a time, a curtailment of Anglo-Indian business, and if Mr. Koir Hardio wero permitted to continue his ignorant campaign tho consequences might be grave Addressing a meeting of his constituents in Birmingham, Mr. Evelyn Cecil, M.P., spoke of the gulf between Imperialists and such men as Mr. Keir Hardie. Ho said Mr. Hardio's lottor against tho British in Zululand had not been forgotten, so that his antecedents wore not reassuring. He was now stirring up sedition and disloyalty in India. He might be sincere, but revolutions of the character for which his words might become responsible did not servo.tho cause of humanity. Such conduct, if Mr. Keir Hardio wero reported correctly, was mischievous and criminal.

Sir James Buckingham, C.1.E., secretary to tho Indian Tea Association, speaking to a "Standard" representative, said: —"I quite agree with Mr. Koir Hardic that the Indian 'ryot' is oqual to tho British agricultural labourer, so far as work is concerned. As a matter of fact, ho may be considered a trifle hotter, insomuch as you can. train him to,do any task that is required. You can put him to agricultural work if you want him to do such, and, at a pinch, you can mako him a carpenter or a buildor. "At tho same timo, however, I would point out to Mr. Koir Hardie that tho Indian sodi-tion-mongor is also quito as good at his particular profession as is his British brother; consequently, I cannot see whoro Mr. Koir Hardio's occupation-is justified. Possibly ho is only amusing himself, but when ho talks about bolioving what his nntivo interpreters tell him in prefcrenco to what is told him by British officials, ho is talking absolute nonsoiiso. Nothing could bo further from the truth than tho suggestion that tho actions of Indian Civil servants in tho performance of their duty worn to bo compared with the opprossion attributed to Turkish officials in Armenia.

"It is rather surprising to mo," concluded Sir James Buckingham, "that in India they fine and deport a nativo sedition-monger, but they allow Mr. Koir Hardio to roam at largo. Tho natives rogard him as an emissary of tho British Governmont, and ho is given unlimited license Tho soonor they deport him tho hotter it will bo for British prestige, British intorcsts —and himself."

Sir Jamos Buckingham wan a menibor of the Indian Legislative Council 1803-04, and

boil. A.D.C. to the Govornor-Goncral 1895-98. Mr. Francis Skrine, who served some time as Commissioner of tho Chittagong District, in Bongal, was equally emphatic in Tiis expression of tho harm Mr. Kcir Hnrdio is doing. His outburst lias como at an unfortunate timo," said Mr. Skrino, "when tho National Congress agitation is failing, and tho people .iro beginning to see that tho boycotting raovomant is really an Anarchistic ono. Now Mr. Hardio's speeches aro only likely to cause a recrudescence of unrest. If they only know tho standing of Mr. Hardio among his own countrymen it would not bo of bo much consoquoneo, but, unfortunately, when they seo a member of Parliament among them they havo an exaggerated idea of his importance. "The majority of the Indian people aro very ignorant, and subject to fits of hysteria. They can bo worked up to an extraordinary pitch of emotion, and when in this condition thore is no story they will not swallow. The action of a man like Mr. Koir Hardie must do an enormous amount of harm."

A prominent Indian, who is at presont on a visit to London, stated that Mr. Keir Hardie's agitation would seriously Kinder tho industrial development of India. "Air. Koir Hardie's speeches aro most unfortunate," ho said, "as tho people will now look upon thorn as justifying their agitation. India is not yet ready for self-government; she must be governed from without until the social conditions havo been radically altered."

BENGALI WAR SONG. The Bengali newspaper "Yngantar," which has recently been the subject of a Government prosecution, lately published a poem appealing to the "national" sentiment, of which tho following is a translation:— "Away! Away to tho battlefield! Sing your loudest songs of triumph: "Guard your faith imperilled! Mother India cries." Will you consider but your lives Whon peril threatens mothers, wives? Put on your war dress, all of you, Hark the trumpet sounds unceasing! ■ March on! To pour our lives in battle. Praise to Mother India, praise to Mother Kali! "Does it fit the god of terror To sit and take his ease? , Neither it behpves you to be in the embrace of your sweetheart when your breast has been wounded by the trampling of the English ? Will the shiny sword rest in its sheath When the Indian is offended? Wo shall wheel about in tho fight, so as not to show the back, We shall never bo taken captives by the. onemy. • We know no fear, whatever may be in store for us, We will not make any truce with Bin, There must bo an end to our servility to the Foringhi. Victory or death! We have to make a selec-

tion in a face-to-fnce battle. Rush to war! rush to war!' Wo shall disperse tho troops of tho enemy. There will bo left no traces of the foe in old and sacred Aryynvartya. Wo shalj, take our ablutions in the blood of tho enemy, And with it we shall tint Hindustan red!"

CANADA AND JAPAN. The steamer Woolwich, chartered by Japanese at Kobe to bring immigrants, landed 257 at Victoria, and of these 81 wero under contract when they left Japan to work for the Wellington Colliery Company, at Comax, Vancouver Island. Many other instances could be given showing how tho Japanese aro boing brought in, in violation of the alion labour laws of the country, to v supp]ant white workers.

Tho situation is far from pleaaant, and tho outlook sorious. The limit' , of toleration on tho part of tho people of British Columbia and the Pacific 1 States has been almost reached, and if peace is to bo maintained in the, Pacific in the near future, something must he dono —and done at once—to alleviate tho situation. Meanwhile,, preparations are going on quietly on tho part of Japan and the United States to moot whatovor outcome the situation may give rise to. . Tho despatch of the United States Fleet to the Pacific Coast is an indication of the view taken of tho situation at Washington, and tho constant little episodes which are occurring from time to time aro not improving matters; For instance, tho seal-raiding incidents in ■ the Behring Sea, an imperative demand for indemnity for tho fivo Japanese killed in attempting a similar raid tho provious year, the soixuro of Pratas Island, not moro than 120 miles distant from tho Philippines) and of utility as a baso in the evont of a descent on these islands, have added, fuel to tho feeling which undoubtedly exists botween tho two nations. t

That tho mass of tho people of tho United States do not like the Japanoso seems evident, and it scorns equally' evident that tho bulk of the Jnpaneso are unfriendly to tho United States. Not all the world's diplomatists or armies can keep people with an inborn hatred of each other from fighting, other than by keeping thorn apart. Therefore, the necessity arises for immediate action to remove the danger.