INDIAN UNREST

Hokitika Guardian, 7 January 1932, Page 5

INDIAN UNREST

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE CAMPAIGN, POSSIBLY MAY NOT START. (United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) CALCUTTA, January 6. The swiftness of the Government’s action has temporarily paralysed the G'ongres s Organisation. The threatened 'disobedience campaign appears not yet to have started, and in many quarters it is held that a disobedience campaign never will start. Bombay seems to be the strong point of the Congress Attack, the supporters of the Congress having promised men and money for ithe campaign, and the Bombay merchants have said that they are prepared for a month’s “Hartal,’’ or complete cessation of business. The city of Bombay at present is quiet, and the Hartal is barely noticeable, the general evidence suggesting that the inhabitants of Bombay have no stomach for the disobedience campaign. The fact is hot-heads went blindiy ahead, dragging Gandhi with them, and no real campaign adequate to the changed situation exists. The leaders had mistakenly counted on being given a certain interval by the Government to set their battle ari-..,, and to stimulate enthusiasm by whirlwind propaganda. Meanwhile. ' the Government of •India la pressing forward arrangenients for continuing the Round Table Conference and names of Indian delegates for Various committees on which Gandhi was 'to have served are to be announced this week. /

The situation on the North West Frontier .shows a distinct improvement. NO POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE. COMMENT BY LONDON PRESS. RUGBY, January 5. The .newspapers generally agree that in the circumstances, Lord Willingdon and his advisers were left with no possible alternative in the arrest of Gandhi. The “Times" says': There has never, of • course, been anything incongruous between the determined prosecution of the goal of Indian seifGovernment and the repression of lawlessness by ithe Government of the day, whether composed for this purpose, as it was. at one time, wholly by British administrators, or, a s it is today, with a large admixture of Indians, or, as rthe fullness of time w >ll f 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 .. essential*.. ak emhsedr.society, but ifres the meantime, the work of ithe Round Table Conference gods forward,

BURMA CONFERENCE.

RUGBY, January 6.j

'The Burma Conference delegates, sitting in committee, have concluded the consideration of their report. A. prenavy session will be held on and, if necessary, on Monday. It ,is intended that ithe Prime -Minister shall make a statement of the Government’s policy regarding Burma on Tuesday. . PATEL’S BROTHER ARRESTED. (Received this day at 9.26 a tn) CALCUTTA, January 6. Following upon the arrest of Patel, in the police raid on the Congress headquarters at Bombay, the police hauled down ithe Congress flag, and replaced it with the Union Jack, which is now flying gallantly over the building. The Congress Offices are now closed. Further arrests include that of V. JPatel, brother of Vadabhai, Patel, and the former President of the Legislative Assembly. REAL TEST EXPECTED SOON. LONDON, January 6. The “Times” Delhi correspondent, says that the strength and rapidity of successive Government attacks have seemingly stunned the supporters of Congress, .but it is too early to gauge the general effect on India clearly. The storm may break anywhere, and at any moment, while the veal test may come in a day or two.