The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1926. VISIT OF THE INDIANS.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 22 June 1926, Page 6

The Timaru Herald TUESDAY, JUNE 22, 1926. VISIT OF THE INDIANS.

It is worthy of nolo that at Hie fiftieth anniversary of Queen Victoria becoming Empress of India, an Indian Army team, _ is visiting' the youngest Dominion beyond the Seas to meet' the youth of this fair land in friendly rivalry on the playing - fields. During the early part of April, 1.87(1, the nation was vastly perturbed at the prospect of Queen Victoria becoming Empress of India. It was, of course 11 , .a. purely fanciful agitation. Disraeli insisted that the “addition.” would have been made when the' Government took' over the administration of India, from the East India Company in 1858, but that the Indians' might have construed it as “ conqueror.” Twenty years had pa ssed since then * the Prince of Wales’s visit had been a brilliant success—hei was on his way back—and the new Viceroy, Lord Lytlon, bad .shown a genius for spectacle. Disraeli declined to suggest- what form the “addition.” should take; that, ho submitted, was a matter for the Queen—huh it was generally assumed to ho “Empress of India.” And, oh, tho fantastic, melancholy forebodings'! They would be even more amusing were it not limb many of the admired predictions of to-day will be seen to be- just as senseless a. few years hence. Lowe (afterwards Lord Sherbrooke) dreaded what might come of: making Indian youths studyingthe classics think of Queen Vieforia. as a Homan Emperor. And what ■about “Itcfender of the-' Faith” ? Would not the Indian natives want to know which faith she was defending, ours or I heirs? Another foiesaw that all the snobs and sycophants of the Old Country would start talking pf Victoria a-s Empress of England; a secondthat all India ■would regard Jim press for Queem as an exchange for the worse: a third that some Colonies would regard it as an exchange for the better, and would not bo happy" till they got it. , Tho leadingpapers gave the proposal their blessing, but some misguided leagues got to work and arranged meetings all over the Kingdom to protest against the measure. Lord Lawrence, who had a. right to speak about India, pricked half of the bubbles assiduously blown by remarking that tho languages- of India bad only one woid for Queen and Empress. And so Queen Victoria became Empress of India., and. the proclamation was read out at Calcutta on .January I, 1877. Since those anxious days India has proved herself worthy to take her place in the Commonwealth of British nations-, and today wo find her player's visiting these friendly shores to meet in a. game in which the Indian Army (cam excels. Hut if the battles of England were won on the playing fields of Eton, tireinterchange of visits between teams representing- this new democracy in the South Seas and the mighty Indian Empire with alLits ancient glory and stead-’ fast idealism can yield nothing but good results in promoting a. better understanding between ihc peoples of the older and newer countries under Hie Hriti.sh Crown. The devotion of India- to the Imperial Commonwealth is not'Hie least lemarkaMe of the. revelations brought about, by a "World War. which threatened its existence, a revelation no loss snip-rifling, perhaps, to Lidia ns themselves than to their British fellow citizens. The following extract from a poem by a distinguished judg;o-._ Nawab Nizaniui. Jung of the High Court of: Hyderabad, printed in “The Times” of October 2, 1914, with reference to the landing of tho Indian contingent at. Marseilles, is a. fine, expression of the value which Cubans have conic, lo attach to Hie-ir citizenship in a world slate greater even than India itself: though weak our hit mis which Cain wonlii clasp i.ho warriors’ nword with warriors’ 8 rasp Dn victory’s field; V‘t turn, O mEltiy Mother! turn Unto tiny million hearts that burn 'To ho thy shield!

lliino equal justice, mercy, grace, Have made a distant alien raco.

Jr , A part of fliec! |' Vi,s thine to hid their souls rejoice n lieu first tin.’v heard t.hc Jivinrr voice Of liberlv!

Unmindful of their ancient name, And lost io Honour, Glory, Fame, And sunk in strile.

Thou found'.st them, whom thy touch hath made Aden, and to whom thy breath conveyed A nobler life!

They whom thy love hath guarded long, '.They, whom thy care hath rendered strong fu love and faith, Their heart strings round thv heart entwine: A They arc, they ever will he thine, In life—in death!

The cordiality of the welcome' accorded the Indian Army hookey (earn serves lo demonstrate (he friendly feeling's which the people ni; this young' country cherish towards the sons of rm ancient race. We know the ihiglish officer» of the team will carry away with them mariv happy rememhrauee« of their visit to ifn’se Ihrioe-favourod shores, and it is oonlidenilv an I iei.pated that Ihe Indian members of Ihe (.earn will have indelibly impressed nil I,heir minds during' their journeiying through Australia, and New /ealand scf in (ho silver sea away in (lime dislanl. outposts of Ihe JAiipiie, Umt (hey ;tro

citizens of a world-flung Commonwealth of /Nations which has done so much towards solving tlici most fundamental of human problems by accepting the pi|nciple that the true commonwealth of peoples rests upon mutual responsibility and mutual understanding and goodwill.