INDIAN SITUATION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 47, 26 January 1932, Page 7

INDIAN SITUATION

BOYCOTT OF BRITISH GOODS. ; ” MERCHANTS THREATENED. SHOPS LOOTED AND WRECKED. (United Press Association.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received January 26, 10.0 a,m. CALCUTTA, Jan. 25. The boycott of British goods shows no signs of abating in Calcutta and Bombay, where there is organised victimisation and extortion in the bazaars by Congress agents. Indian shops in Bombay selling exclusively foreign goods have been plastered with posters bearing boycott slogans, and merchants refusing to subscribe to the Congress funds have been threatened by gangs of hooligans. In some cases shops were looted and wrecked because the owners refused to obey the Congress mandate to close in sympathy .with the arrest of the Congress chiefs. This new form of oppression has resulted in the Bombay. Stock Exchange being virtually closed, for three weeks. CONGRESS CHALLENGE. NO RELAXATION OF NECESSARY MEASURES. VICEROY’S STATEMENT. Received January 26. 10.10 a.m. CALCUTTA, Jan. 25. The Viceroy, Viscount Willingdon, addressing the Legislative Assembly at New Delhi, reviewed the political situation. He declared that there had been no departure by himself or the Government from the path of conciliation until the Congress itself had wantonly torn the path. No Government with a name would hesitate to accept the challenge. A compromise was impossible with those who chose to break the law. There could bo no relaxation of tho measures while circumstances made them necessary.