The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1932. TROUBLOUS INDIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 January 1932, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times MONDAY, JANUARY 25, 1932. TROUBLOUS INDIA.

Apimhenti.y only the strong repressive policy adopted by the Government has

prevented a very serious outburst of trouble in India. In the North-West pi evince l and in parts of the Punjab the disturbances have been due partly to the marauding of frontier tribes, partly to religious differences between Moslem, Sikh and Hindu, and partly

to Bolshevik propaganda, which seems to be pa-rtcularly active in this part of India. In this quarter vigorous measured have been adopted to maintain order and to keep the peace. But in the other great provinces, and more especially in Bengal and Bombay, the efforts of the Nationalist agitators to work up a boycott of British goods and to incite the people to refuse to pay rent or taxes have been, on the whole, a complete failure. A week ago the Governor of Bombay explained to « conference of European and .native merchants that the British authorities were resolved to maintain freedom of trade for all, and that they would “extend the fullest protection ngain-Nt molestation,” Tips declaration seems to have given courage to the mass of the people, who have no desire to see the I country’s trade brought to a standstill, and the boycott has had but very limited success. As to the no-rent and no-taxes campaign, this ha.s received a serious setback through the arrest of Mrs Gandhi. The- authorities, having plenty of trouble on their hands, had no desire to interfere with the Mahatma’s wife. But she and her friends left them no alternative, and her sentence to imprisonment for six weeks ha.s acted as a useful deterrent to the agitators who have chosen this line of action. No doubt the repressive methods which the Government has adopted are producing a salutary (effect upon public op'nion in India. Gandhi’s imprisonment at first seemed likely to arouse much bitter feeling, but even those who sympathise with the aims of the Nationalists are beginning to ask why Gandhi, who professes the “golden rule” of the New Testament, should be willing to ruin and starve all who do not share his views. The refusal of the authorities to tempoiise longer with Gandhi, or to take him ait his; own valuation as saint and a. martyr, has done more to bring his followers to reason than all the generous concessions that went before. Moreover, the ourrrages perpetrated by Nationalists have opened the eves of the people to the dangers of irresponsible violence and anarchy. “It is for gunmen,” tno Calcutta “Statesman” has said, “that Congress has rejected the- path of constitutional freedom.” This development makes it all the more difficult to understand why European clericals should support the Nationalists; but the arrest and deportation of several British and American missionaries during the past few days may serve to convince the malcontents that tire British Raj is determined to enforce its. edicts against all offenders without fear or favour.