THE RED MENAGE.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3378, 13 June 1927, Page 7

THE RED MENAGE.

IT CAUSES AND CURE. (By Sirdar Ikbal Ali Shah.) In the minds of many people both in this country and abroad, problems surrounding the changing East are causing anxious thoughts. The extent of the Bolshevik threat to the British Empire, the genesis of ferments in Old Asia, and the birth of a League of Oriental Nations are matters upon which hangs the destiny of world peace; and' yet so nttle seems to be known in this country about them. It is, therefore, my endeavor, as a son of the Orient who has roamed in search ■of knowledge, far and wide, both in the East and the West, to draw aside the veil from significant happenings which have stirred up the imaginations of our people even amongst the darkest corners of little known Asia.

Be it said in the beginning that although the evidence of awakening forces in the East is generally known, yet the nature or purpose of such ferments are but imperfectly understood here. In Afghanistan, for instance, the winning of the throne by the third son of the late Amir is symptomatic of a colossal change in the affairs of a country where the Succession of the eldest son was an unalterable law. More surprising is the fact that not only was there no internecine conflict when the late Amir died, but that the rival brothers of the present king actually work under him as members of his government and are happy. This exception to the traditional history of Afghanistan can only be explained by the fact that public opinion in that country has triumphed, and ideals of nationhood are hardened to a definite shape. That country of Afghanistan which, till quite recently, was regarded as the lair of rapacious brigands is now recognised by all European Governments, and has progressed towards scientific civilisation in an nnheard-of manner. Every Afghan to-day breathes of national self-sufficiency and considers his king as an embodiment of it. The old order of the government has been cast off, the army is modelled on modern lines, education is progressing rapidly, travelling schools are starting to give instruction to the village folk, industry and commerce of the country has been appreciated. And all this within 10 years. The conditions in Persia have been equally altered. The thraldom of both the clergy and the autocrats is now removed from a country which groaned under the last of the Qachar rnonarchs, and public opinion is not only tolerated, but even cultivated by Raza Shah Pahlavi. The admittance of Persia into the league of Nations is not without its significance, and the fact that she was a running candidate with China during the last session at Geneva for one of the non-permanent seats at the League Council is sufficient proof of the capabilities of her' gifted people. The one remarkable fact that stands out in bold relief is that in Teheran as in Kabul the call of _ nationalism is uppermost in the minds of the people. The strides that Turkey has taken under Mustafa Kemal have startled the world, so much so that many of those who stigmatised the Nationalist Turk of Angora as a band of outlaws are compelled to acknowledge that Turkey has entered upon a new era of political power to regain her ancient glory. In Egypt and India one notices unmistakable signs of prosperity and perceives a clear awakening to an intense nationalism, whilst m Arabia the old cry of Pan Arab is fast reviving. Now whence has this impulse of reawakening come upon the slumberous East? Everywhere the thoughts of philosophic Asia hay© turned to a stupendous change; from theocracy to democracy, from internationalism to nationalism, which makes me vividly conscious of the thrill of a new hf© amongst my people in the Orient, My recent wanderings in many lands make me feel confident that the cause of this awakening is the Western impact, in which Great Britain, Franco and Italy have played .a conspicuous port. For the last two decades or so, the surging tide of Western civilisation has been breaking wave after wave upon us in Turkey. European travellers began to journey far and wide into the heart of Asia; Eastern students flocked to the Western Universities ; and above all, the general economic conditions of the world, strengthened by commerce and industry, knocked at the isolated fortresses oT Islam in all parts of the world. But by far the greatest impact was furnished by the late War, and be it known that that catasrophe—a greater factor in culture-mixing than the trade highways.—wrought a more profound change in the world of Islam than in Europe. The East of 1914' ceased to exist, and the modern scientific civilisation of the West broke the spell of “what is written is written” from the lives of millions whose grandsires had lived and died under its influence.

This, then, is the genesis of the social and the political which are in the East to-day, as I have reviewed it in the beginning of this - article. Whether they are making us better men is, as Kipling would say, another story; although briefly it might be stated that 1 have heard it said that an Oriental does not as a rule graft well with the Western Civilisation.

Leaving the French and Italian impulses alone for the moment, let us sec the manner in which Great Britain is situated in relation to both Russia and the Islamic East, The most intimate associations that this country has in the East are with India, In India the British efforts, acting as the standard bearer of the Western Civilisation, have not boon without wholesale results; and if anything more truly can prove the civilising mission it is this, that India to-day is imbued with a nationalist spirit. Opinions are, of course, divided as to whether that country is fit to bear the burden of the responsibilities which follow in the train of a grant of selfgovernment, but the fact remains that the political education which England lias given to India has been so liberathat popular imagination at one time could not he controlled; giving rise to Gandhism it menaced the safety of the British interest in the East.

Unlike’ India under the British rule, Central Asian Khanates of Bokhara and Khiva were governed by Russia in a different way, so different indeed that the entire region of Central Asia can scarcely hold the candle to Indian conditions of progress and prosperity. This fact is conveniently forgotten by the enemies of England. The Indian National Congress which met a very short time ago resolved not only to obstruct the smooth working of reforms, but also expressed its desire to have direct treaty negotiations with the foreign Powers like Afghanistan, Turkey, and Persia. Could any fair-minded observer disagree with me that In the “liberated” Soviet Republics of Uzbekistan. Tajikistan, and elsewhere in Central Asia such fire-eating demands would never be tolerated by Bolshevik Russia ?

But one of the most interesting and yet the most misunderstood cpies tions amongst the welter of Eastern diplomacies is the Bolshevik advance in the very heart -of Asia, its propaganda in the Enst,_ and its threat to the British Enquire. Without mincing words I shall at once say

that evidence if not lacking to show that Bolshevism has achievea a singular political success amongst the Eastern people, and that there is an intense' propaganda at work which menaces very materially all British interests in Asia.

What are the facts ? Soon after the Russian Revolution of 1917 and the advent of the Soviet form 'of government, those Central Asian States of Kriva and Bokhara which had sustainned the shock of Tsarist thraldom was given a qualified liberty by Lenin’s Government, inasmuch as their native rulers were dethroned and Soviet Governments were installed which were to operate under the aegis of the Moscow Government.

But the people there with centuries of kingship traditions behind them, could hardly reconcile themselves to the altered conditions; open opposition followed, with the result that the region of Ferghana remains to this day an unsurrendered stronghold of the Royalists. '

When the situation became very grave, propaganda, was started in Central Asia to convince the people that the new cult was really the republication of the words of the Prophet of Mecca ; propaganda trains equipped with cinemas, printing presses, went the length and breadth of Central Asia. As soon as a train arrived i,n the station of one of those' wild tracks, unsophisticated sons of old Asia left their looms and gathered to “see the fun.” One of the sides of a railway compartment was lowered, a glibtongued lecturer harangued the simple desert folk on the benefits of the new form of government, sweets were distributed, feasts were given, then after the “faithful” had finished their evening prayer, a propaganda film was thrown on a portable screen to show how the Capitalists suck the very life sap of the workers. Then leaflets were distributed amongst the audience exhorting them to value the Communist ideals; and when the propaganda train moved away, it left a bewildered people. The strong-headed Kirghiz of the Steppe, the Uzhak of Bokhara very much wrapped up in the refinement of his race and traditions, and the calculating Tajik were all equally dumbfounded. And yet the Soviet Republic in the name of Young Bokhara held the sway, battling against the Royalists of Ferghana on one side and the local population on the other. These then were the conditions of the peoples of Central Asia where propaganda was distinctly indicated by force of circumstances. But it was thought very imperative that if the Communist doctrines were to live or indeed thrive, then a challenge must be thrown to the British all along the East, which was the one stumblingblock in the way. There is yet another aspect of Bolshevik propaganda which is very imperfectly understood. In the beginning it was evolved merely to “stabilise” the Central Asian conditions so that there might be no break away from the Russian fold; but soon its professors discovered that their philosophy was censured by Europe and America; and it was thought that if they could not vindicate themselves in the eyes of the West, then, if they captured the imagination of the East by force of sheer numbers the justification of their ideals could be proved. To achieve this a double-fangled programme was devised. The religious susceptibilities of Islam were first harped upon by saying that as Islam preached equality and Bolshevism did no different, the two philosophies were really one. The glamor of that was. however, soon lost, because the class distinctions in Asia are so deep-rooted that a groom and his master have two distinct places in society. What, however, did hit the mark was that Nationalism, which had stirred up the Old East, was sympathised with and assisted in China and Turkey; even in Afghanistan and Persia.

But here again, let us be clear in our minds about the fact that an alliance with Bolshevism in these countries does not mean that these .Eastern areas have adopted. Communism as their future political alliance which assists them in their struggle in their national aims is all that binds these Asiatic Powers with Bolshevik Russia. Even for the maintenance of that alliance if is necessary for the Bolsheviks to continue their propaganda amongst the Islamic- nations, and keep on styling Great Britain as the Imperialist and Capitalist nation. The very existence of Lenin’s cult depends upon it; so soon as Bolshevik propaganda stops, the very life sap of the (Soviet Government will dry up; and it might be added that Red Russia is veryanxious to live.

The Eastern Governments, however, are not blind to these undercurrents; and they are well aware of the fact that the Rolshevik propaganda is directed against Great Britain, hut are careful to guard the ideas of their own nationals against its onslaught.

Now in face of these circumstances all over the East the only remedy is to sympathise with the legitimate aspirations of Eastern nationalism .and leave the excitement about anti-British propaganda alone, after guarding your own gates, against its entry, because to demand a stoppage of propaganda in countries beyond British control only weakens the British prestige and amounts to empty threats. For reasons which I have explained, tile Bolsheviks having once given birth to propaganda, cannot now stop it. One thing, however, is certain: that it cannot proceed much further, because the Moslem potentates do not encourage it in their respective countries.

Great Britain can do no better than to let healthy nationalism thrive in Asia, assist it wherever it can, and the world’s economic pressure will soon compel these countries to devote their domestic industry and commerce to peaceful dealings with Europe which will provide the greatest market for their productions of raw material, with the consequence that Islamic Asia will he increasingly drawn into the international community of world trade where there is no room for Communist ideals.

This is the one great chance for peace and prosperity on earth.