THE CLOUD IN INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIV, Issue 13486, 13 May 1907, Page 5

THE CLOUD IN INDIA.

SEDITIOUS AGITATION • AT

LAHORE,

MILITARY PRECAUTIONS.

By Telegraph—Press'Association—Copyright. Calcutta, May 10. Although the seditious movement at Lahore has been overawed by the military, the situation is still regarded as serious, and Sir D. Ibbefcson, the ' Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab, lias postponed his departure. He has also closely inspected the defences of the city.

Lajpatria, one of the chief leaders of the agitation, who was arrested, has been deported to the Andaman Islands, in the Indian Ocean. He was a native pleader in the Punjab Courts, and organised the finances of the Hindu agitators and inspired their acts of seditious violence. The Hindus, who counted upon the Government's inaction, have been startled by the bold step taken by the authorities in deporting him.

(Received May 12, 5 p.m.)

Calcutta, May 11.

Ajitsings, another prominent- agitator, has been arrested in the Punjab.

London, May 11.

The Times says the Indian disturbances are largely owing to Mr. Naoraji's utterances in December, and adds, " The movement for an Indian National Congress is incompatible with the fundamental principles of British rule as emphasised in Mr. Morley's speech delivered in the autumn."

Writing in the Otago Daily Times, Mr. Geo. M. Thomson says:—"The spread of education throughout India has been very great, and has been accompanied by many secondary, and somewhat incalculable, consequences. Cunning, unscrupulous, and litigious as a vast number of natives are, especially the Bengalis, they apply this learning in ways which do not commend themselves to us. They are taught in our schools the proud boast that all British subjects ar<> equally free in the eves of the law, and that freedom follows the flag. But they find that this is not the case: it is only a polite fiction. In the colonies they are treated as foreigners and undesirables, and they realise that the boast is not true. Equal opportunities are not granted to them in their own land even; the services have been thrown open to them much more than formerly, but they are not by any means free. Any British lad may aspire to the Premiership of Great Britain, and every French hoy carries a marshal's baton in his knapsack,' but the Indian knows quite well that the highest positions in his own land are not open to him. The freedom of the press, has, however, been granted to the people, and the irresponsible scribbler takes full advantage of it to pour out his malevolent feelings against tho white man, who condemns and flouts him. As a matter of fact, far too much freedom has been allowed the native press, and the scurrilous and seditious character of much of what is published should have been summarily dealt with long ago. Tho flame, has been allowed to burn too long, and it will require a. very vigorous application of cold water to suppress it. The men who conduct the native newspapers know every point and quibble of the law, and they sail as near the wind as they can. Finding that they can overstep the limits with comparative impunity, they have of late waxed very impudent, and are now likely to smart for their treasonable language. These are among the serious problems of India today. The conditions are ' very different from those -of the • mutiny' year, 'and -theprospect of anything approaching • a revolt of tho people is. small indeed. But there are deep grievances to be righted, and it is the duty of the people ,of all parts of the Empire to see that these are righted. We have our vast responsibilities to others, and the'miserably, petty, and selfish spirit which so many of our fellow countrymen Little Englanders, Socialists, Labour leaders, and others—display towards the countless peoples of India is one of the most depressing aspects of the outlook. We hold India today, as we, held it on,the suppression of the great mutiny, by the power of tho sword. We are still a long way from holding it, as it ought to bo held, by the power of affection.