The Daily News WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1930. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 May 1930, Page 8

The Daily News WEDNESDAY, MAY 7, 1930. GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

The more closely the state of affairs in India is watched, the greater becomes the conviction that unless the British Government acts upon the advice of the Viceroy it will not be long before the course of action pursued by Gandhi and the National Congress leaders will result in open violence throughout India. The campaign of civil disobedience on a non-violent basis has failed, as was-inevitable, but it has, the Viceroy considers, unchained dangerous forces. How much wiser it would be to stamp out the unrest created by Gandhi and his follows before it develops into lust for bloodshed needs no emphasis. Those who are in a position to know India and its teeming millions are well aware that disaffection can easily be promoted there by propaganda and fanaticism. The resolutions passed by the All India Congress towards the end of March authorised Gandhi to initiate the control of civil disobedience. Immediately afterwards Gandhi made an extremely bitter speech at Borsad, in which he said he had made it his religion "to destroy the Government,” and he appealed to his audience to follow his example. He insisted that the Government was so monstrous that it was a sin to allow it to exist any longer. He admitted that he did not mind being called a revolutionary to the extent that sedition had become his religion. Now it appears that the Government censored that speech, but it was subsequently published in Bombay, although its violence discounts Gandhi’s lip service to non-vio-lence. . That he did his utmost to compel the authorities to arrest him is well known. At first the Government considered that Gandhi ’s arrest would not excite a tithe of the interest now that it would have done if the police had intervened when he began his march to Jalalpur in order to infringe the salt laws. It would seem that the stars in their course are fighting against Gandhi and his seditious movement. A semblance of adherence was ostentatiously paraded at certain places along the route of the march, it being noteworthy that his "army” did not leave a rearguard to carry on his work, and that “untouchables,” for example, who received respect in his presence, were as untouchable the day after he passed as they were before his arrival. Of great-er importance is the factor of a .satisfactory winter rainfall in the United Provinces and the Punjab, for thereby the cultivators were made happy, and on that account are in no mood for furthering Gandhi’s programme

for mischief-making. There are, of course, always a sufficient number of Indians ready and willing to make trouble, easily inflamed and placing scarcely any value on life, and it is these who eonstitue the bulk of Gandhi’s supporters, except-that among the highly educated class there are some who have an eye to their own aggrandisement when Home Rule .is granted to the Indian people. At a critical time like the present it is certainly encouraging to find that the better class landholders are at the back of the Government in upholding law and order. They have a stake in the country and readily acknowledge the benefit the natives - enjoy under British rule. It is significant that Bombay Europeans have written to the Governor of that province demanding firmer action regarding the maintenance of law and order, and requesting the arrest of all who incite the people to break the law. They, in common with the majority of citizens of the great British Empire, regard the policy of the present Government wth anything but favour. Again and again has British reluctance to force a serious issue been interpreted as ar sign of weakness, but it is customary to avoid making martyrs and to follow the smooth, though dangerous, path of conciliation. It is only a question of days before the report of the Simon Commission will be available, and then the troubles in India will either gain strength or be turned into a separatist movement. The Imperial Government must bear its responsibility one way or the other, but it would be fatal to the future of India to allow fanatics like Gandhi to spread sedition and inflame the passions of the worst class in that great country. If there is to be a struggle, better now than later on. Under these circumstances it is some satisfaction to learn that the Government of India, after consulting with the Home Government has at last arrested Gandhi and placed him in safe keeping. It is also reassuring to be told that the situation at Peshawar and elsewhere in India is well in hand. His removal from .followers whom he was unable to control was a stern- necessity. The authorities have now shown they are prepared to' deal with disaffection and sedition, arid they have a sufficient armed froce to meet all contingencies, though it is hoped there will be no need to proceed to extremes.