King Country Chronicle. Thursday, May 8, 1930. THE POSITION IN INDIA.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXIV, Issue 3151, 8 May 1930, Page 4

King Country Chronicle. Thursday, May 8, 1930. THE POSITION IN INDIA.

Although the Indian "Government was reluctant to take extreme measures with Gandhi, and sought to evade his arrest, it seems that the latter course was necessary. Gandhi started a campaign of civil disobedience with the object of embarrassing the Government, but did not in gathering many adherents. The more respectable and solid elements in India are against Gandhi's declaration of independence and are determined not to take any part in the campaign of lawlessness which is bound to be the result of any attempt to put the principle of civil disobedience into operation. The more sober elements in India realise that the country is not yet ready for home rule. Gandhi at one time had this more influential section of the community supporting him. Now he only has immature youths and the lowerpaid urban workers in his following, many of whom are professed Communists. Nevertheless, this is a very dangerous element, for events during the last few years show that Indian revolutionary youth has taken easily to the bomb and the pistol. While Gandhi has announced a non-violence policy in His campaign for independence it is quite certain that he cannot restrain the hot-heads amongst his followers, and already riots and violence have taken place in various parts of India. What effect Gandhi's arrest will have on the people of India can only be surmised, but the fact that the Indian Government delayed his arrest for so long shows that the Government was averse to taking extreme measures. In view of the fact that the report of the Simon Commission will shortly be released it is most regrettable that Gandhi should have started his campaign before the British and Indian Governments had the opportunity to study the report and come to a decision on the future government of India. The three political parties of Britain are represented on the Commission, which was set up in 1927, and has some of the ablest minds of British public life to-day. An attempt was made by the more extreme elements in India to boycott the Commission, but through the good offices of Sir John Simon, who handled the position with tact and diplomacy, this phase of opposition was dropped. The Commission is one of the most important tribunals ever set up in British history, for its task is at the same time a delicate one and fraught with f ar»'*««rtiing consequences. While India

has at present a certain measure of self-government, it is for the Commission .to report whether this should be extended, and in what manner. No inkling has been given of the proposals that the Commission will bring down. They may have an important influence on the future of India, and it is Unfortunate that recent developments have disturbed the political outlook and that the extremist section has become so active at a critical time in the history of India. It would be unwise to underestimate the influence of Gandhi and his followers. Though a minor section of the community, they are irresponsible, and for this reason more dangerous. The report of the Simon Commission will be of world-wide interest, involving as it does matters of vital importance to not alone India, but the whole of the British Empire. In India, with its many problems, statesmen of the Mother Country will have to prove their ability for constructive statesmanship. Later messages announce that the situation has become more serious. On the arrest of Gandhi the Hindus in all the big towns ceased work, and there have been numerous clashes with the troops and armed police. The State Princes, who are all against Gandhi's independence proposals, are organising to help the Government to quell the disturbances. The prospects in India are fraught with grave possibilities.