STRIKING ADDRESS TO MOSLEMS

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 214, 4 June 1919, Page 10

STRIKING ADDRESS TO MOSLEMS

BY PROMINENT BENGALEE

THE FATE OF TURKEY Considerable attention has been toused througiiout Jndift 'by the presidential adgross TceenUy delivered lo the Moslem League at Delhi by Pazul Haque, a proiimieni. politician in Bengal, and on« of Hie Mnliammaduns who are closely connected with the Indian National Congress under its new extremist auspices (writes tb.o special correspondent, of thb "Christian Science Monitor" from Calcutta). In the coursa of his address), IU. Haque rfferred to Muhnminndau approUeneiona regarding Turkey, and, observed (hat to them, the Indian Muhainmadaue; the fale of Turkey could not ba but a matter of the deepest concern, for with it was closely interwoven the question of the caliphate, pnd of the Kuaraianshit* of the holy places of Isluin. Over tin. achievements of British diplomacy and statesmanship ill the past, proceeded the president, they were ready to draw «. veil, but it was time, to remind British dlatasmen that it was politically unsound and against the teaching of history to indulge in heavy drafts on the loyalty of a subject people. Very little logic ivfls needed to demonstrate the fact that the practical destruction of the Military lwwer of Islam in the avotKl could not But have far-reaching effects on the mind nf even the loval Jfuhnmmadans of India. It was, therefore, <i matter of the deepest regret that at the forthcoming Peaco Conference the fMiihamruadane of India would be wholly unrepresented, and that moat weighty decisions affecting, the sentiments and feelings of His Majesty's Indian subjects Vouid be arrived tit in the absence of proper representatives of their interests.

British Rule. The tecent utterances of reeporaiblo British statesmen had hardly been of a reassuring character. Only the other dav Lord Robert Cecil had declared that Turkey had shown an utter incapacity for riilinn subject races, and had given a plain hint as to how tho Allies proposed to delil with Turkey. But nad England shown any conspicuous capacity for nilins subject races? Tall talk and low performances might be among Ihe many and varied privileges of Bnglielimen, but did they seriously realise what the verdict of history was likely to bo on the nohiovements of their own countrymen in India?

In the speakers opinion India had retrograded in material prosperity under British rule, due mainly to two causes: First, the British administration had not promoted or widened the sources of. national wealth in India, secondly, all the available wealth had been drained out of the country by the- system of administration, which could not have left any wealth in India without directly feleifyiuK the fundamental truths' of political economy.

Mr. Haque'. energetically combated the idea that there was any natural antagonism between Hindu and Huhauinmdun interests, ' and immediately, went on to attack the Government for' its neglect of Muhammadan interests. Under the .present conditions, he maintained, Muhammadans were the greatest sufferers. Hβ dwelt at. some length on the Guleiittn .disturbances, giving his version of what had happened, which, he pointed out, differed materinll.v from (he official But, he went on, facts. remained what they were, and people began to wonder that tho wrongdoers were not ■ only ■ not.-yet punished, but even rewarded for oppressions committed on the people. .After referring to the cafe of the Ali brothers, who liuvo been interned for eomo this* years, the speaker asked the Government to compare the Muhammndan feeling.in India to-day with whnt it was only s\ few years ago, nnd earnestly,besought the authorities to consider whether they were really serving the' best interests.of British rule in India. He wished to_ t«ll tho Government that it was driving the Muluiramadiius slowly, to the very verge of despair. f Reverting to the question of the caliphate and the safety of the . holy places' of Islam, Mr. Haque obnervcd that he-would-leave thtse questions -to be further discussed by the; Moulanas, but he wanted to emphasise one particular aspect. All questions relating to the caliphate and the holy places touched the Muhammadans in the.most vital part of their religious belief, and, however, much their rulers might 'indulge in the pastime of setting up convenient impostors to misrepresent the real views of the commun> ily ou political questions, nny attempt to repeat that process in connection with religious matters was bound to be attended with the most serious consequences. Loyalty Qualified. . : They were loyal to the British Crown, and they were prepared to vindicate their loyalty by making sacrifices, subject to the v one vital condition of consistency with the teaching of Islam. But in making one sacrifice after another, the dividing line might soon be reached, and then they would have- to tell their rulers that in the event of a possible conflict between divine commandments and tho laws of an earthly king, a true Muhaminadan must allow the former to prevail, even at tho risk of laying down his lifo. ■ Finally the president strongly advised his co-reliptioniiits to unite and co-oper-ate with the Hindus. "Experience has shown that w? call hare this help and co-operation for the mere asking. Shall ire be wise and strengthen our »rms by an allinnco with our brethren, or shall we be fnolish, nnd weaken whatever strength we possess bv internecine quarrel and strife? We have to decide with the future of our community in Hie jialm of our hands, and please God let us decide -wisely."

It is nenernlly believed Hint the Mjove speech only says aloud what a great rannv Muhaiinhadans, Tioth educatcdand uneducated, are thinking, and it preseats a graphic picture of the disturbance which the collawsa and overthrow of Turkey before British arms has occasioned in the minds of Indian, Muhnmmad&ns. This disturbance of Mnhatnmadan thought is undoubtedly occupying the attention of ihe Government, as it. promises to Ije one of the most urgent problems of the post-war period .in India.