"PRELIMINARY WHITEWASH"

Maoriland Worker, Volume 11, Issue 475, 21 April 1920, Page 1

"PRELIMINARY WHITEWASH"

Here is a curious fact. A White Pape,r on the Punjab riots has been published in England. A London cable of the "Englishman" dated the 30th January stated that "it has caused a good impression." Another cable of the same paper dated the 4th February states that the "Manchester Guardian" has attacked "the publication of the Indian Office White Paper on the Amritsar troubles, declaring that a serious feature is that the reports contain no word of condemnation, either in the action of General Dyer or of bombing crowds elsewhere." The "Guardian" has characterised the "White Paper" as a "preliminary whitewash." We have no doubt, that it is so. Why has not the White Paper been published in India as well? The most obvious answer that will occur is that, some of the facts stated in that, document might have only a vague idea of the atrocities in !he Punjab. They are not familinr with the facts as we in India are. It is far easier therefore ot persuade them to take a lenient view of tho atrocities if not to justify them. And it is the opinion of the British public that matters. And as regards to "howling" (to quote aii oft-repeated expresion ot the "Englishmen ,, and Tho ''Statesman" of the Indian agitators they may he allowed to howl on tilt they desist from sheer exhaustion.—Ainrita Bazar Patrilra (Calcutta),