INDIANS IN E. AFRICA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18354, 21 March 1923, Page 9

INDIANS IN E. AFRICA.

CLAIM TO THE FRANCHISE.

HOSTILITY OF EUROPEANS.

DISTURBING SITUATION.

ARMED ACTION THREATENED

By Telegraph Association—Conyrurht A. and N.Z. CAPETOWN.'March 10 The Nairobi correspondent of the Cape Times gives a very gloomy picture of the situation in Kenya (British East Africa). He states that if the visit of the Governor and a delegation of settlers to England does not result in a settlement of the Indian question the colonists will be fully prepared to resist by arms any attempt to enforce the proposed franchise law, on the ground that it would mean the domination of the territory by Indians.

RACIAL EQUALITY ISSUE.

INWARDNESS OF INDIAN CLAIM.

Discussing the situation in Kenya recently a correspondent in the London Daily Telegraph stated that the disagreement between European settlers and Indians arises mainly : (a) From the reservation for Europeans of agricultural and pastoral holdings in the Kenya Highlands; (b) From the segregation of races, partially for business plots, and entirely for residential areas; (c) The franchise, granted from 1921 to Europeans only in respect of the Legislative Council—the local Parliament and now claimed for Asiatics and (d) The claims of the Indians, based on the resolution of the Imperial Conference of 1921, to the "status of equal citizenship," which they would interpret as complete racial equality with Europeans, Reservation of rural holdings in the plateau area to Europeans was part of the terms held out by the Government to induce European settlement at a time when the colonisation of the then British East Africa J'rotectctate was rather hanging lire. It is regarded by the white settlers as one of the essential covenants both for freeholds and leaseholds, as well as constituting a vital condition of European colonisation; a definite legal right beyond the power of any Imperial Conference to disturb. Segregation of the Races. The segregation of races would probably be a less difficult question if the Indian were not himself a- segregationalift. His objection to too intimate association with the native African, both Hi regard to business and residential plots, fully equals the similar European objection to himself. As a matter of fact the business segregation of Indians and Europeans is far from complete, and the white traders would probably be willing to concede this point, whilst holding firmly to the principle of reserved areas for European residence. The. Indians also would possibly not object to this, provided adequate similar areas were reserved for Asiatic residence, which is not the casts at present. The franchise question is aggravated by the attitude of extremists on both sides. There is no doubt that in the mam the existence of the Indian in Kenya is due to his importation by the Government ariA European colonists. Prior to the opening up of Eastern tropical Africa by European enterprise the Indian was found only on the coast principally as a trader. His first Introduction to the interior was as a coolie for the Uganda Railway construction. Subsequent importations of Indian clerks, railwav employees and artisans, together with the Indian coast trader who followed on the heels of the European, formed a very substantial nucleus of the present Indian settlement. In view of those antecedents a European extremist would deny to the Indian any form of participation in the franchise which, after prolonged agitation, they only obtained for themselves loss than two years since. Others, whilst Resisting the full Indian claims, hove come to recognise that it is impossible to import people of any race by shiploads, and expect them like mules contentedly to remain altogether politically inarticulate. Electoral Compromise Suggested. The correspondent predicted that the real clash was likely to mso over the extent and manner of the franchise to be granted. A separate electoral roll for Indians, coupled with an educational test, and a representation of something less than half that of the Europeans would probably be accepted by a substantial body of European opinion. But anything of the nature of a common electoral roll. Indians and Europeans being elected by a common vote. irrespective of race (which is demanded by the Indians), would provoke strong opposition. Such ft concession would, in fact, emlodv much of the essence of that part of the Indian claims to which the European settlers are most bitterly opposed, viz., complete racial eoualitv with •Fil'ropeansi. The tru« Inwardness of this demand is very imperfectly understood in England. The governing factor of its orientation in the mentality of the Indian is bis position in regard to the native. He desires to stand, vis-a-vis the African native, on the same plane as the "^uronean ; to be regarded on terms of perfect equality with the European, as of a dominant colonising and governing race. One outcome of the long-drawn controversy has been the advancement of the native African. Formerly it -looted, except for coolie labour on plantations and for domestic service, he is now b«incr trained as an artisan, and as a clerk and telegraphist i<< developing a, Quit* unexpected adaotab'l'tv and usefulness. Anart from the' political question, the hiVh wage* demanded by imported Tndan clerks and artisans have been a factor making for fV-- technical training of the African which missionaries and native sympathisers gene-ally consider to have been too loner neglected. And with his advancement the African also is developing a political sense. There are those not altogether incompetent to iudge, ■who sav that two or three decades at most will Fee tho Indie political question disappear in a far more important one of African status and representation.