INDIAN TENSION EASIER

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1930, Page 9

INDIAN TENSION EASIER

REVIEW BY GOVERNMENT

‘ATMOSPHERE HAS IMPROVED’

EFFECTS OF DISOBEDIENCE

British Wireless. Rugby, July 21. The Government of India’s weekly appreciation of the situation, which deals in detail with the events during the week ending July 19, was circulated to members of Parliament to-day. It shows that during the period, despite inevitable fluctuations, there was no serious retrograde movement, and that on the whole the atmosphere had improved, and in several cases where tension had existed the situation had become easier. More evidence had been received of the effect of the civil disobedience movement in encouraging lawlessness in a direction not connected with the movement. In Bengal, for instance, disturbances involving many villages were caused by attacks upon money-lenders by debtors as a result of which a dozen people were murdered and much looting occurred before order was restored.

Students had been active in various towns >yid much interference with the work of educational institutions occurred.

All the districts of Gujerat report an improvement and some local officers consider that the civil disobedience movement is definitely, on the decline. District reports from the Punjab are almost unanimous that the situation is definitely more encouraging than at any time since the civil disobedience campaign developed, and they indicate a strong reaction against Congress activities. On the other hand, there have been signs during the past few days that the extremist Akalis may give a certain amount of trouble. ' The central Legislature completed its session during tlie week. While there was an inevitable criticism of the measures the Government had been compelled to take, there was a general recognition of the harm the civil disobedience movement was doing to India in all directions, and the desire was freely expressed that the movement should be ended. A belief is steadily gaining ground that a solution of India’s difficulties is to be sought along the lines indicated in the Viceroy’s recent speech—of . attempting to reach agreed conclusions at a round table conference —the principle of which was supported by the Legislative Assembly, after a full debate, without division. Tlie Viceroy’s speech, lias created a marked effect, and moderate opinion is expressing itself more strongly in favour of the abandonment of unconstitutional methods. POLICE FIRE ON PICKETING MOBS. TWO KILLED AND MANY’ INJURED. Rec. 10 p.m. _ Delhi, July 22. Fifteen persons were injured at Jubbulpore when the police fired on a mob of 2000 picketing the Governnfeut liquor warehouse. The police at Madura, near Madras, were compelled to fire thrice to disperse crowds of Congress demonstrators who had picketed the country and liquor shops. Eight were injured and a man and a boy have since died.