SEDITION IN INDIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2785, 31 July 1907, Page 19

SEDITION IN INDIA.

AGITATORS PUNISHED. LONDON, July 25. Lord Curzon, ex- Viceroy of India, < in the course of an address, said that the unrest in India was only skin deep, ami •would not be alarming if treated firmly and patiently. BOMBAY, July 26. The editor of Yugantar, a native newspaper with a large circulation in Eastern Bengal, has been sentenced to one year's imprisonment for preaching in favour of an armed revolt. Seven National Volunteers in the Barisal (Bengal) district have been sentenced -to terms of imprisonment for breaking-up markets to prevent the sale of British-made goods. The unrest in India gave exceptional interest, to tho Indian Budget day in the House of Commons on June 6. As to the disorders, Mr Morley said he was most anxious. This was the first occasion on which what was called British democracy in its full strength was brought directly face to face with the .Indian Government with all it« difficulties. One of the most difficult experiments ever tried in human history was whether they could carry on in India personal government along with free speech and the free right of public meeting. Although Lord Minto had declined to be frightened by any foolish charge of pandering to agitation in refusing assent to the Colonisation Act, he did not think that resistance to that act was the main cause of the distrubanceb. It was urged that the British administration would bo more popular if it were a trifle le3s efficient, a trifle more elastic. He was confident that most of the population of India were on Britain's side. They knew their whole interests were bound up in the law and order which Britain preserved. Much mttfit be gained if they had a commission to inquire on the spot into the great mischief of over-centralisation. Mr, Morley announced that the Government had given approval to the establishment of an advisory council of notables to be called together from time to time for the double purpose of elioitmg independent opinion and of securing that correct information should be obtained of the Government's ir.tontione. Approval had also been given to the general principle of the substantial enlargement of the legislative councils. The Secretary of State had the privilege of nominating members of the Council of India, and the time had now come when he might safely, wisely, and justly nominate one or two Indian members, for he was oppressed by the thought of how few opportunities the Government had of hearing the voice of India. " There is," he said, " a school which says we might wisely walk cut of India, leaving India to manage her own affairs better than we can. Anybody who pictures to himself the anarchy, the bloody ohaoe, which would follow any such withdrawal will shrink from any Mich po-ition. We. at aIL events, axe bom id to take a completely

different view. ' I believe that certainly ' the Government, and this House in all its parties and groups, will determine that we shall face all these mischiefs, difficulties, and dangers with a dear conscience — for we know we are not following our own, interests, but_the interests of these millions committed to" vs — with sympathy, kindness, firmness, and a love of justice, and, whether the weather be fair or foul, with courage and a hopeful spirit."