THE HINDU TROUBLE

Otago Witness, Issue 3117, 10 December 1913, Page 29

THE HINDU TROUBLE

REPRESENTATIONS TO LORD CREWE. RIGHTS OF CITIZENSHIP. COMMENT BY THE TIMES. INDIANS CLAIM TO BE IN AFRICA. FEELING IN INDIA. MEETING OF PROTEST. 11YSTERICAL OUTBURSTS. OBJECT OF THE AGITATORS. A DANGEROUS POLICY. UNITED STATES AND THE PHILIPPINES. TEST CASE IN PROSPECT. ‘ CALCUTTA, December 4. A great Bengal meeting of protest against the alleged treatment of Indians in South Africa was held at the Town Hall. The Maharajah of Bnrdwan demanded a searching inquiry in Natal, and urged retaliation by repatriating every Indian there. ’ The audience were roused to such a pitch of emotion by the speeches that these at last became inaudible, the hysterical outbursts recalling a religious revival meeting. A resolution was approved thanking the Viceroy for his intervention, protesting against the restrictions imposed on Indians in South Africa, and expressing their indignation at the inhuman treatment of strikers. Similar meetings have been held in many places. It is believed that unless something is done to allay the growing excitement a crisis may be apprehended. The Rev. Mr Bilburn, a missionary, addressing the Bengali meeting, said that there had better be a separation • between England and her colonies rather than that the colonies should be allowed to perpetrate brutalities. The present movement meant a great race war in the future within the Empire. LONDON, December 1.The All-Indian South African League formed a deputation to Lord Crewe (Sec retary of State for India), and demanded an inquiry into the treatment of Indians in South Africa, and the intervention of the Imperial Government, with a view to securing the rights of citizenship for Indians throughout the Empire. Sir Mancherjee Bhownagree alluded to the brand of unfitness imposed on Indians in certain British colonies. Lord Crewe admitted that the material for an inquiry existed. The Government was prepared to accept the result of Mr Botha’s personal inquiries, but would welcome a non-official investigation in the interests of Imperial solidarity. He, however, deprecated anyone menacing South Africa. December 2. Sir Mancherjee Bhownagree, who introduced the deputation, said it was the Imperial Government’s duty to mediate. The deputation asked for the release of the passive resisters, the removal of the racial bar, and the abolition of tire poll tax. Lord Crewe said the South African Go vernment contended that though the laws were restrictive owing to the demands of South African opinion, yet they had been so easily operated that no practical grievance existed. Some minor officials might he stupid and use red-tape methods, and others so racially prejudiced that they did not wish to administer the laws leniently in regard to Indians. He did not cla.m that South Africa ought to legalise polygamy, but, he said, that polygamous communities demanded reasonable consideration. India had been deeply stirred, and it was evident that grounds existed for serious disquiet. Mr Ghandi was a man of high ideals, hut at the same time the South African Ministers were honestly anxious to see the laws humanely administered. He was bound to add that the South African leaders were often hampered by the existence of less enlightened public opinion.- A 6 per cent, tax would not bring in a large revenue, and did not seem to serve any useful purpose. The stories in regard to flogging demanded inquiry. Commenting on the situation in South Africa, The Times says that Englishmen are actually rejected by the hundreds by the British Government annually. Indians, therefore, cannot ask for privileges that arc rightly denied to Englishmen, but they can ask that there shall not be nondiscrimination that is offensive to their race—that is, their claim to be in Africa. CAPETOWN, December 2. Public opinion in South Africa is unanimous that a settlement of the Asiatic question must bo left unreservedly to the Union as a domestic problem to he settled by it independently. DURBAN, December 3. A further strike at the sugar refineries resulted in the sentence of each of the 123 Indians to seven days’ imprisonment. DURBAN, December 4. Fifty Indians are indulging in a hunger strike in the Durban gaol, in order to obtain redross regarding the quality of the food and clothes supplied. PIETERMARITZBURG, December 1. One thousand Indians approved a reaolu-

tion requesting the appointment of a Commission to inquire into the cases of alleged hogging. Leo Copaul asked the meeting whether they placed greater reliance on the word of Lord Gladstone or of Gokhale. The former was simply a puppet in the hands of the Minister of Defence (Mr Smuts). The meeting concluded with three cheers for Mr Ghandi and the King. PRETORIA, December 1. The Government’s representative, Mr South, has returned, after making inquiries at Durban. The Government is prepared to accept the result of his personal inquiries. The Government continues to refuse to discuss the grievances of Indians until order has been restored and the strike abandoned. JOHANNESBURG, December 1. At a meeting of Indians, Messrs Hosken and Ritch, Labour members, asserted that it was true that the men had been flogged. They had seen marks on their bodies. They had also heard people in the mines admit that they had flogged the Indians. LONDON, December 3. •A Bine Book with regard'to the Indians in South Africa for the period from August to November 29 shows that the despatches to Mr Harcourt contain frequent references to the anxiety of the Indian Government regarding the situation, and reveal that Mr Harcourt, in his reply to the London Moslem League, pointed cut that the league did not appear to be fully in formed with regard to the Indians’ open defiance of the law. This defiance seriously embarrassed the continuance of his representations to the South African Government. December 5. Sir West Rid gw ay, in a letter respecting Indians in South Africa, says they are merely pawirs in the game. The objective which the Indian agitators have in view is full rights—civil and political — in every part of the Empire wherever Indians may choose to reside. The grievances in South Africa are only being used as stepping stones towards a policy .which is pregnant with peril to the Empire. Sir West Ridgway adds ; —“ We are treading on ground which is full of pitfalls, and our Government must walk with delicacy. Any uildue interference in South Africa and any attempt to coerce her will be resented by all the dominions, for on this question they stand shoulder to shoulder. December 7. Sir West Ridgway in his letter sharply criticises Lord Hardinge. He declares that his approval of Indians breaking the law' South Africa w’ll make the Bengal agitators clap their .hands and leap with jov. but when the agitators’ fine brave words are translated into aggressive action. Lord Hardinge will find that he has sown a dragon’s teeth. It is essential to end the passive resistance in South Africa, and the Government should appoint a commission of inquiry, but is doubtful if the concession would satisfy the Indian agitators, whose pretensions arc encouraged by academic Imperialists, who dream of a Utopian Empire where all citizens have equal rights. If the Government were to attempt to force such a policy, or even support it with argument, it would break up the Empire. The selfgoverning colonies would not tolerate the enry of coloured people in any numbers. OTTAWA, December 3. A smuggling plot to secure the entrance of large number?, of Hindus into Canada has been discovered at Vancouver. Four incoming Hindus, who were arrested, per jured themselves, stating that they had been to Vancouver previously, and they were now returning from India. A Hindu priest is alleged to have supplied the men with maps with sufficient local detail to enable them to pass the immigration investigation. It is understood that hundreds of others were icady to follow if tiie first four had not been discovered. December 7. Forty Hindus who arrived in British Columbia have been held for deportation, despite the decision of the Supreme Court. Reports received in Canada show that a large number of Hindus are awaiting action in the dominion before leaving India for Canada. Public bodies m British Columbia are urging the Government at Ottawa to enact stringent laws. SAN FRANCISCO, December 7. The Federal Court decided that Hindus arriving from the Philippines and claiming entrance into the United States were not receivable, and ordered the deportation of 24 of them. It is understood that a tost case will be carried to the Supreme Court.