SITUATION IN INDIA

Evening Star, Issue 20993, 6 January 1932, Page 7

SITUATION IN INDIA

COUNTRY GENERALLY QUIET TWO DISTURBANCES REPORTED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright, CALCUTTA, January 5. Although the demonstrations protesting against the arrest of the Congress leaders are generally quiet, disturbances have occurred at Allahabad and Cawnpore, and at the former place three people were killed and many injured by being crushed during a procession which was dispersed by the police. Eighteen people were arrested, including the leaders. The Cawnpore crowds shouted revolutionary slogans when they were passing British officials. Altogether, the Government can bo fully satisfied with the situation throughout the country.

COMMENT BY ‘ THE TIMES' GOVERNMENT TAKEN RIGHT COURSE. LONDON, January 5. ■ The Times,’ in a leader, emphasises that Mr Gandhi has lost control of the Congress and is probably contented to see what a little martyrdom will do. “ No Government worthy of. the name could doubt the course it should take after Mr Gandhi’s declaration, but it is grotesque to describe the action as a ‘ declaration of war ’ when it is merely resistance to the Congress’s impudent and intolerable claim. Mr Gandhi’s non-contribution to the work of the Round Table Conference proved that nothing can at present be expected from the Congress leaders, but their attitude will change and Britain’s prestige will be higher in the eyes of the world for exhausting every means of eliciting all Indian opinions while pursuing the chosen course of constitutional progress, despite attempts to create chaos.’-’— Loudon ‘ Times ’ Cable. GANDHI'S ARREST GENERAL APPROVAL. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 5. (Received January 6, at 11.30 a.m.) The newspapers generally agree that in the circumstances Lord Willingdon and his advisers were loft with no possible alternative but to arrest Mr Gandhi. ‘ The Times ’ says: “There never, of course, has been anything incongruous between the determined prosecution of the goal of Indian self-government and the repression of lawlessness by the Government of the day, whether composed for this purpose, as it was at one time, wholly by British administrators, or as it is to-day with a large admixture of Indians, or as the fullness of time will see it in the hands *of the Indians alone. Nothing, indeed, could so surely retard that prospect as any weakness at this stage in maintaining the essentials of civilised society; but in the meantime the work of the Round Table goes forward.”

DISPLAY OF FORGE MILITARY MARCH THROUGH CHITTAGONG. CALCUTTA, January 5. (Received January 6, at 10.30 a.m.) There was an imposing display of nearly 1,000 British naval, military, and Indian forces at Chittagong to-day, which is a hotbed of the revolutionary movement. The cruiser Effingham, the flagship of the East Indies squadron, landed detachments of sailors and marines with a naval gun. They were joined by Ghurka and Mahratta regulars. Thousands of Indians watched the march through the town. Hundreds of new recruits were secured for the European Association. A mass meeting was held at Calcutta approving of the association’s policy, which insists on safeguarding European interests in India and applauding the action taken against the Congress.