SITUATION IN INDIA

Evening Star, Issue 21004, 19 January 1932, Page 7

SITUATION IN INDIA

A STEADY IMPROVEMENT BOMBAY STILL UNSETTLED (British Official Wireless.) Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. RUGBY, January 17. The latest reports from India state that tho steady improvement continues regarding tho position on the North-west Frontier. There is also an improvement, despite isolated incidents, in Kashmir, while in- the rest of India tho situation is easier generally, except in Bombay, where some difficult points in regard to the question of picketing has arisen. QUIETER THAN FOR YEARS PAST CALCUTTA, January 18. (Received January 19, at 10 a.m.) Arrests continue under the various special ordinances passed to forestall a revival of disobedience, but on the whole India is quietoi than it has been for years past. The foreign goods boycott has definitely failed. The latest development in the Indian Government’s campaign of suppression of illegal activities is a restriction placed on British missionaries who are evincing active sympathy with the Congress movement. Two arrests have been made and a third deported. REASSURING REPORTS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 18. (Received January 19, at noon.) Reports concerning tho second week's operation of the special Government measures in India are reassuring. In most of the provinces, notably Madras, tho Punjab, Bihar and Orissa, Bengal, the Central Provinces, and Assam, there has been little activity, and apart from the North-west Province, there is a general absence of trouble in the rural areas. The situation in Bombay City is well under control. In tho United Provinces the failure of the no-rent campaign has been a significant feature, and in tho largo towns of the provinces there is a definite tendency for the disturbances to settle down. In the North-west Province, although many arrests are still necessary and disaffection tends to revive in some centres, the general improvement continues. In the Bombay Presidency the position generallly is quiet. Tho arrest of the leading agitators and the seizure of notified places continue. A considerable number of those arrested have since been released. _ In several cases disclaimers or apologies have been accepted by the district' Occasional hartals received comparatively little support Reports state that the removal of the principal agitators has had a salutary effect everywhere. In the United Provinces the orders prohibiting processions and meetings have been generally obeyed. Allahabad is still the worst centre of activity in the province, although no further serious clashes between the police and processions have occurred. In Bengal the situation generally is quiet. The anti-Government movement has not gained momentum. A decrease in serious crime, compared with the previous week, is recorded in Burma, where surrenders continue. particularly in the Prome district.