INDIAN DISORDERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 141, 14 May 1930, Page 2

INDIAN DISORDERS

PRESENT SITUATION. OFFICIAL STATEMENT. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright). (British Official Wireless.) Received May 13, 1-50 p.m. RUGBY, May 12, The Secretary of State for India, Captain Wedgwood Benn, has circulated to members of Parliament a telegram from the Indian Government, dated yesterday, containing an appi. ciation of the general situation in India. The telegram says: “In our appreciation of April we said that the salt campaign showed signs of languishing in many places, and it was uncertain whether it would remain the chief plank in the Congress programme much, longer. It has now been definitely abandoned in some provinces and elsewhere continues, except perhaps in the Bombay Presidency, in a desultory manner. The only results to the Government revenues have been negligible. The real effect achieved has been to arouse a spirit of lawlessness and defiance of authority, and to give impetus to the forces of disorde r , which its organisers are unable to restrain. “As was anticipated the decline of the salt campaign is accompanied by efforts to strengthen the boycott of the liquor shops and foreign goods, especially cloth. It must be understood that all these activities are incidental to a general movement to stir up unrest and hostility to the Government. We have previously referred to the case with which excitement can be aroused in towns. The activities of Congress have succeeded in producing in many large towns an atmosphere wh'ch easily leads to outbreaks of violence. These outbreaks have been brought rapidly under control and the local effects have usually been transient. The arrest of Gandhi, partly in consequence of the careful precautions taken bv the local authorities, has produced less disorder than might have been anticipated and probably less than would have taken place some weeks earlier. SPORADIC RIOTS.

“Sporadic riots followed his arrest, but were serious only at Calcutta, Delhi and Shoiapur. In Calcutta they were of short duration, and the authorities had little difficulty in exercising an effective control. In Delhi they were more serious, but control of the situation was never lost, and the conditions are fast returning to normal. At Shoiapur it is reported that three policemen were murdered under circumstances of extreme brutality. The situation, however, was reported to have been brought under control the same day. A company of troops were moved in rapidly from Ahwednagar, and on May 9 the town was quiet. On May 10, however, there were further mob demonstrations, and additional troops are being despatched. “A feature of the demonstrations following the arrest of Gandhi was the hostility shown toward the police and Government officers. “The hollowness of claiming that tire movement in non-violent is becoming increasingly apparent. The military authorities have given • most valuable assistance throughout, and the spirit shown by the troops and police has been excellent. “No rioting has occurred in Peshawar since April 23, and no opposition has been offered to the arrest of persons required by the police, most (f whom have been apprehended. The conditions in the Bannu and Koliat districts are disturbed, and the Seditious Meetings Act, which is already in force in the Peshawar district, is being extended to them. The civil disobedience movement has obtained little success in the rural areas, except in Cujarat, where the personal influence of Gandhi is strong. The .activities there have been largely directed toward a boycott of Government servants and the resignation of the village officials. The non-payment of land revenue is also being encouraged. It is hoped that the improvement in the situation in this area will result from Gandhi’s arrest. PRESS ORDINANCE.

“Previous to the issue of the Press ordinance, a prominent feature of the civil disobedience and allied movements was the use of portion of the Press for the vilification of the Government and its officers ; incitement to violence, revolution, crime and the encouragement of defiance of the laiv. The ordinance, while placing no restrictions on the just liberties of the Press, is intended to prevent its abuse for the above purposes and has already had a salutary effect. Organised attempts are now being made to spread malicious' and alarmist rumours, and until the public have learnt by experience that they are totally unworthy of credence their currency tends to maintain a state of excitement in towns.

“Many of the reports appear to be circulated with the definite intention of encouraging violent revolution. .Measures are being taken to deal with this development. Despite efforts made by delibenate misrepresentations and otherwise to involve Mohammedans in the movement, the community as a whole has refused to join in, and prefers to rely for political advance and the protection of its own interests on constitutional methods. The Council of the All-India Moslem Federation has just passed a resolution disapproving of the civil disobedience movement as detrimental and injurious to the best interests of the Moslem community, and advising Moslems to keep themselves aloof. “Labour as a whole has remained comparatively unaffected, and although sections of it have at times taken part in hartals and demonstrations, there has so far been no striko in sympathy with the civil disobedience movement, which still draws a great majority of its supporters from the Hindus of the town. SITUATION IN HAND. “While it is not possible to foresee all the possible developments in the situation, which naturally has elements of instability, the general situation at present is well under control, and the resources of the Government are fully organised to resist the forces of lawlessness and disorder.” Supplementing • this general review, Captain Wedgwood Benn stated in the House of Commons to-day that at Sholapur, the scene of the terrible outbreak last week, the situation had somewhat deteriorated since Saturday evening. A crowd surrounded one of two patrols of troops in lorries which had broken down and refused to disperse when ordered to do so. No violence, however, was done to the troops, and eventually the lorry was towed back. During the day the contents of a city poltee station were turned out ; nto the road and burned, and the Nationalist flag was hoisted above it. Another police station, about eight miles from Sholapur, from which the police had been evacuated, was burned ty villagers. Another company of Indian infantry had been sent to supplement the company already there and was expected yesterday morning. TRIBAL OPPOSITION. Further troops were being also held in readiness. On Saturday, Haji of Turanzai and his followers, who some weeks ago ap-

proached within about 20 mi es of Peshawar and constituted a sent n o menace to public order, were definitely warned to depart. This warning y met by blocking the high road with felled tress. Accordingly, a raid on them was carried out by aircraft yesteid y. The results are not known. Captain Benn was glad to say that so far as he had heard the celebrations connected with the Moslem festival of Bakrid, on May 10, had passed off everywhere without disturbance. Captain Benn added that the Commander in Chief in India had authorised him to say that lie was entirely satisfied that the Indian Army was completely loyal. Regarding the report of the Indian Statutory Commission, Captain B« nI J said that the first volume consisted a general survey of the problem, and tho second of the commission's recommendations. It was hoped that the date of the publication of the two volumes would be respectively June 10 and June 24.