PROBLEMS OF INDIA.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 2 July 1925, Page 3

PROBLEMS OF INDIA.

NEW. BRITISH POLICY

“SYMPATHETIC AND TACTFUL

LONDON, June 16. The political correspondent of the Daily .Mail says that, during two months’ personal discussion, the Secretary of State for India, Earl Birkenhead, and fhe Viceroy of India, Lord Reading, have explored the most weighty Indian questions. They have now drawn up a memorandum tor submission to the Cabinet, in which they define a firm, sympathetic, and tactful policy, to extend over a number of years and serving the interests of the whole Empire. Lord Birkenhead will make a long statement in the House of Lords on the matter at the earliest opportunity. A message from Calcutta states that the .approaching Moslem festiA-al of Bakrid is causing much apprehension at Delhi owing to the serious MoslemHindu communal tension that has been evident in that citv some months.

Gandhi, Avho was appealed to, said that lie did not know what to do, as he had no influence Avith the Hindus or Moslems. A leading Moslem, when appealed to, said; “Try Mahomed Ali.” An official proclamation prohibits the slaughter of cattle anywhere except in the public slaughter-house, and also prohibits the use of certain routes for leading cows and other animals to the slaughter-house. The authorities are making preparations to meet every eventuality, and are carefully watching the situation. It is still impossible to estimate the political effect of Das’ death, but probably it is the final bloiv to the extremist campaign. The Indian press is at present stunned by a sense of personal loss, and is unable to write coherently. Thus “Forward Das,” a personal journal, appeared yesterday Avith a blank editorial page, and the bare announcement of his death. The whole country seems to be in mounring.

INDIAN SEIF-GOVERNMENT

NOT READY YET

The Calcutta branch of the European Association, an organisation representing the rank and file of unofficial Europeans, in discussing the proposed reforms, passed a resolution that no commision to inquire into the possibility of a change should be appointed prior to 1929, the date mentioned in the Government of India Act.

The general sense of the meeting emphatically was that a further advance at the moment was not only unnecessary, but also unreasonable. The opinions' of the Government Reforms Inquiry Committee wa s quoted to the effect that the reforms Avere not given a fair trial bv Indian politicians, and it was also stated that the whole purpose of the Government of India Act was to give 10 years in which to _ determine whether India Avould justify a further political advance. At the present time, over a large part of India, there was absolutely no justification for a further advance. A minority urged that Avhere the Swarajists were not in a minority, Indian Ministers have displayed a full sense of responsibility; that the Dvarchial system be scrapped at ail early date, that ail subjects, except law, order and finance copy; and that all members of the Imepriiq service slioukl continue to be responsible to the Viceroy and Secretary of State. A motion to this effect was negatived.