INDIAN CRISIS

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 March 1922, Page 5

INDIAN CRISIS

REPRESENTATIVE COMMENTS. EFFECTS OF GANDHI’S ARREST. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Recd 3 p.m. DELHI, Alarch 13. . Air. Alontagu’s resignation came as a bombshell to India. An impression is prevalent that the Viceroy’s resignation is also involved, but the cases tire regarded as not analagous. Among the Indian members of the Council of State and the. Legislative Assembly there is much disappointment over Air. Alontagu’s resignation. The newpapers disclose a remarkable diversity of opinion. Some declare that- he is one of the greatest men in India’s history, not able to be replaced. Others regard him as a political charlatan, responsible for the present seditious condition of the country. The most responsible organs consider that great credit is due to him for the boldness of his reforms but. condemn the alleged political expediency which made him undermine the- power of the Indian Government, resulting in a policy of kidglove conciliation, instead of firm action against sedition mongering. A correspondent says the mere fact of the arrest of the extremist leader Gandhi, while the Prince is in India, may be regarded as a sitrej indication (hat the situation is still'most serious. The arrest of Gandhi was received quietly throughout India. Allahabad declared a hartal during the evening of Alarch 11, but next morning all the shops were reopened. At Bombay

REPRESENTATIVE COMMENTS. EFFECTS OF GANDHI’S ARREST. (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) Recd 3 p.m. DELHI, Alarch 13. . Mr. Alontagu’s resignation came as ’ a bombshell to India. An impression is prevalent that the Viceroy’s resigna- ’ tion is also involved, but the cases j tire regarded as not analagous. Among I the Indian members of the Counc’l of State and the. Legislative Assembly there is much disappointment over , Air. Alontagu’s resignation. The- newpapers disclose a remarkable diversity of opinion. Some declare that he is one of the greatest men in India’s history, not able to be replaced. Others regard him as a political charlatan, responsible for the present seditious condition of the country. The most responsible organs consider that great credit is due to him for the boldness of his reforms but condemn the alleged political expediency which made him undermine the power of the Indian Government, resulting in a policy of kidglove conciliation, instead of firm action against sedition mongering. A eorrespondent says the mere fact of the arrest of the extremist leader Gandhi, while Ihe Prince is in India, may be regarded its a sure( indication that the situation is still’most serious. The arrest of Gandhi was received quietly throughout India. Allahabad declared a hartal during the evening of Alarch 11, but next morning all the shops were reopened. At Bombay and Lahore there is perfect quiet. At Aladras, a mild demonstration occurred, a la rge bon lire of foreign clothes : being made as a protest against j Gandhi’s arrest. Ihe newspaper “Leader” described j the arrest as a masterpiece of official < ineptitude. The newspaper “Potrika” t declared that the arrest is an earnest of a step forward in the policy of repression. <