THE AMEER IN INDIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13846, 8 March 1907, Page 5

THE AMEER IN INDIA.

AN ENLIGHTENED SPEECH. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. CALCUTTA, March 6. The Ameer of Afghanistan ivlion laying (lie foundation stone of Ishimina. College, Lahore, in the course of a broad, enlightened speech, eulogised education and warmly commended Great Britain for conceding tlio Mohammedans perfect religious liberty. A conference of Indian Mohammedans which assembled at Dacca, recently produced a counter-blast lo the mischievous declarations of the congress which met •about the same time in Calcutta. The latter was essentially Hindu in its composition, and was practically confined lo that small action which lias received an English education and is more dependent than any other for its very existence oil the goodwill of the Government, which it, is so fond of denouncing. The resolutions of the Mohammedan Conference showed a spirit of loyalty and moderation. But. they wore (Supplemented by speeches which indicated the militant- character of the Mussulman. The Mohammedans, the president declared, were not only loyal to tho Government, but were willing to fishfc for it if necessary. The significant, fact of the Mohammedan combination lies in the circumstances which brought it. into existence. 'The organised and seditious agitation of the Congress party (says the Saturday Review) lias secured it. such advantages that the various Mohammedan communities have found it necessary to combine in order to hold their own. The 'position is extremely undesirable and not without its perils. Counter-agitation has dangers of its own not less perhaps than those of the cxccsscs which provoke itj