SUSPENSE IN INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18041, 16 March 1922, Page 5

SUSPENSE IN INDIA.

STORM BELIEVED BREWING.

WHEN THE PRINCE LEAVES. EXPLOSION PREDICTED. FIRM POLICY URGED. By Telegwph-Press Association— Copyright. (Received 7.50 p.m.) A. and N.Z. DELHI March 14. A special press representative with the Prince of Wales, reviewing the tour and the present position of affairs, says that the arrest of Gandhi and the resignation of Mr. E. S. Montagu have overshadowed tho closing scenes of the Prince's visit. In official circles, civil and military, the hope, has again arisen that tie Government has at last determined on a firm policy of suppression of rebellion, protection of loyal Indians and the sweeping away of the atmosphore of suspicion and uncertainty that is ptisoning all the services. The correspondent hears on all aides such, expressions as: " We are in for an explosion when the Prince leaves. Let us get it over, clear the air and end the uncertainty that is paralysing all official and commercial India." He declares that a crisis is inevitable, and urges the need for dealing firmly with the Gandhrst agitation.

He declares that the Prince's tour has not influenced the political situation one way or the other, and it is idle to assert that the Prince's personality has been felt by the majority of the people. He has seen little or nothing of the bulk of the natives, precautionary measures for his safety having prevented free intercourse with them. It is a mistake to tliink that he has won a single convert from the Gandhist movement.

The correspondent points out that the Prince's passage through the Britishgoverned portion of the country was characterised by boycotts, varying in extent and by rioting at Bombay and Madras. The Prince 'has acquitted himself in a delicate, difficult task with characteristic tact and has made the right impression on the native rulers. It has been suggested that if he had been permitted to go openly through the bazaars, eveD during the hartals, it would have caused a reaction of feeling in his favour on the part of the impressionable natives, who would acclaim him as a popular nero, but the: writer is unable to say how far this is justified.

The tour, however, in no sense has been a failure, and the correspondent cannot Bee how under the circumstances it could have been a greater success.

REPLY TO MR. MONTAGU.

LORD CURZON'S VERSION.

NO TIME TO STOP DESPATCH. Australian and N.Z Cnhle Association. (Eecd. 4.30 p.m.) LONDON. March 14

In the of Lords, the Marquis of Curzon said that Mr. E. S. Montagu's action in publishing'the despatch from the Indian* Government regarding British policy towards Turkey had gravely affected the f. tsition of the British dele- ( gates at the forthcoming conference at Paris on the Near East. At a Cabinet meeting on March 5 he suggested to Mr. Montagu that the publication of Lord Reading's despatch should not be authoriivd without reference to the Cabinet,, He was dumbfounded tojearn that Mr. Montagu had already authorised its publication. Naturally he thought it too late to intervene.

Subsequently he wrote to Mr. Montagu privately protesting against the repetition of such an occurrence. He regretted that Mr. Montagu, instead of speaking in the House of Commons, went to his constituency and travestied both their conversation and his (Lord Curzon's) letter.

In his letter, after deploring Mr. Montagu's action, he wrote: "If I, when Viceroy of India, had ventured thus pnblicly to refer to a European country's foreip policy, I would have been recalled."

He went on to state that Mr. Chamberlain agreed that it was intolerable that the subordinate BritUb Government of India should seek to dictate the lines of thought that Britain ought to follow in regard to Thrace and Smyrna.

The Marquis of Crewe (Liberal) agreed that Mr. Montagu broke the Cabinet Droorietios. the effect of which in Europe and India was the most important consideration. The opinions of the Government of India were well known. Therefore he thought that the publication of the despatch was not likely to affect the Near East Conference.