MOMENTOUS DECISION

Southland Times, Issue 19396, 10 November 1924, Page 5

MOMENTOUS DECISION

GRAVE CRISIS IN INDIA ATTEMPT TO WRECK THE GOVERNMENT A GLOOMY OUTLOOK. (By Telegraph—Press Assn. —Copyright). (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association). DELHI, November 8. (Received, November 10, 1 a.m.) In place of non-co-operation in all forms of Government administration, including the administration of justice, the Indian Nationalists have now adopted a policy of retaliation. This important change in the programme. is the outcome of a conference in Calcutta between Ghandi and C. R. Das, the Bengal extremist leader. Instead of passive resistance to the Government, the Nationalists will now enter the central and provincial legislatures with the object of wrecking the Government. This policy is to be accompanied by a stern boycott of foreign goods. The decision constitutes a marked victory for the extremists, making Ghandi a back number. The Nationalist crys are: “Unity of all parties” and “Wreckage of all forms of Government,” so as to paralyse British authority and force it into granting dominion self-government to India at the earliest date. The new policy has won many converts from all parties, and the future outlook in India is regarded as not one of peace and tranquility. Indian business men consider the prospect most gloomy, Already the money market reflects this view. Ghandi was accorded an ovation on arrival at Delhi from Calcutta but his speech indicated that he had completely abdicated the leadership to the extremists. BIG ROUND-UP. INDIAN TERRORISTS TAKEN: STAMPING OUT ANARCHY. (Sun Special). CALCUTTA, November 1. Special powers were conferred on the Police Magistracy at Bengal by the Viceroy (Lord Reading) to-day, to deal with the terrorist anarchial movement. In the early hours of this morning 27 arrests were made in the City of Calcutta, including three chief lieutenants of C. R. Das, the Extremist leader. They were the chief executive officer of the Corporation, the secretary of the Bengal Congress, and a member of the Bengal Legislature. Searches are going on throughout the provinces and further arrests are being made. “SNAKES IN CELLS.” Sir Malcolm Hailey, the new Governor of the Punjab, inaugurated his term of office by a vigorous attack on “mendacitymongers,” who, during the past months, have caused serious political and communal trouble. In a speech at Lahore, Sir Malcolm Hailey said: “When one hears that the Government is determined to stamp out the religion it has done so much to foster; when one hears that men whom one knows to have been hale and hearty have perished under inhuman torture in gaol; when one hears it repeated that the Government, in order to get rid of political opponents, fills their cells with snakes and poisons their food, one realises to what extent the sinister propaganda goes.