INDIA’S HOPES.

Taranaki Daily News, 31 May 1924, Page 3

INDIA’S HOPES.

MASSES POLITICALLY AWAKE MOVE FOR DOMINION STATUS. SITUATION STILL DIFFICULT. The masses are politically awake as never before in India. They know about Japan, and Russia is making strenuous efforts to carry on her propaganda in India. If England does not make India a Dominion quickly, the Indians will begin to look to Japan and Russia. This is the great danger before the Empire, and it can only be avoided by making India a Dominion.

Such were the views expressed by Mr. C. Jenarajadasa, of Madras, vice-presi-dent of the Theosophical Society, who passed through Wellington on his way to conduct a five months’ lecturing tour in the United States. “The situation in India,” said the visitor, “ is still difficult, but with patience and understanding on both sides matters will pass off smoothly. The question is, how quickly can India be raised to Dominion status?”

Mr. Jenarajadasa, who was educated in England, explained that India was I at present divided into two parties, one I proceeding upon constitutional lines and the other Ibeing Gandhi party, aim- ' ing at direct action. The Gandhi party had inflamed the masses. Their policy was non-co-operation with the Government—no payment of taxes, boycotting of goods, and not voting for members of Parliament. This policy had failed, as some of Gandhi’s own followers were now in Parliament. They wanted to break up the Government, and substitute an Indian Government. In contrast to this direct action was the constitutional method, which had three special leaders working together. There were the Right Hon. Srinivasa Sastri, P.O. (who visited New Zealand recently), Dr. Annie Besant (president of the Theosophical Society), and Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru. They had organised a National Convention on the model of the Australian National Convention. and the aim was to draft a constitution for India as a Dominion, and then get the 'British Parliament to accept it.

“Gandhi’s followers undoubtedly have the field now,” said Mr. Jenarajadasa, “but more and more the people are beginning to realise that constitutional action is the only way. The danger is that now all the masses are stirred up (and there are <3OO millions of them), it the situation is unskilfully handled, there will be outbreaks of violence.” He went on to say that the British Prime Minister (Mr. Ramsay MacDonald) was perfectly favourable to Indian aspirations, and so was the English Labour Party as a whole. Ot England, who would oppose, and also would also oppose. The problem was: how many reasonable people on both sides could come together. Mr. Sastri and Dr. Besant are now in England to develop the idea of a national convention. If this plan succeeds. Mr. Jenarajadasa is convinced that India should be a Dominion within five years.

“The Empire,” he added, “had two big problems to solve—lreland and India. The Irish question has been happily settled. If the Indian problem can be solved as satisfactorily, the Empire will then be able to get down to business and do something for the ‘World, instead of having all these internal troubles.”