GRAVE OUTLOOK IN INDIA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 16639, 7 August 1930, Page 9

GRAVE OUTLOOK IN INDIA.

Viceroy’s Firm Attitude. STRAIGHT TALK TO CONGRESS. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received August 6, 7.5 p.m.) DELHI, August 5. The Viceroy has given permission to the bandits Motilal Nehru and Jahawarlal Nehru, to meet Mahatma Gandhi, in Yeravada gaol, to discuss a settlement of the political situation. It is emphasised that calling off of the civil disobedience and no-tax campaign, is a specific condition for the precedent to consideration by the Government of any suggestion, which the three Congress leaders may make after discussion in gaol. It is understood the Viceroy is determined not to allow any more vaccilation on the part of Congress to accept the Government’s terms. TENSE RELIGIOUS FEELINGS. HINDU-MOSLEM ANGER. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Cor y right (Received August 6, 7.50 p.m.) DELHI, August 6. There is a grave situation at Sukkur, following the Hindu-Moslem riots. Machine guns are guarding the main streets and public buildings. Armed police and Europeans are patrolling the city. Two companies of Indian infantry are proceeding to the ci.y from Hyderabad. Rioting has again broken out and many cases of robbery with violence are occurring in secluded parts of the city, the victims, in most cases, being refugees from the floods, who are at present living in the streets and open spaces. Acute tension between Hindus and Moslems in Hiwwar city in the Punjab, had a dramtic sequel yesterday, when a Hindu ran amok with a gun and killed eleven and wounded four Moslems. He rushed into a butcher’s shop, shot every Moslem (of whom there* were nine), dead, then left the city, after killing two more. He is still at large. REVIEW OF SITUATION. DISCONTENT WIDESPREAD. British Official Wireless RUGBY, August 5. The Government of India’s appreciation of the situation up to last Saturday states: — There has no change during the week, and the improvement manifest during the past few weeks has been maintained. In Wasiristan, a settlement with the various Mahsud sections is proceeding very satisfactorily. On the northern border of the Pashawar district the situation remained somewhat obscure throughout the week, out there has been no overt act of hostility. There is no change in the situation in Bannu City. In the northwest frontier province the process of disarming the disaffected portions of the rural area has been continued throughout the week. During the week it has been necessary to apply the Prevention of Intimidation Ordinance, to the central provinces where picketing has become more intensive, and the methods more forcible. The unlawful instigation ordinance, which makes penal, instigation to the non-payment of land revenue and other dues, has been applied to the United Provinces, where Congress propaganda has been carried on in some villages. The breach of the forest laws appears to be extending in tl\e Central | Provinces, and in the Bombay Presidency, and in some places it has been accompanied by wilful damage to standing trees.

The picketing of schools and colleges continues in some towns, and in Calcutta it has necessitated the successive postponement of the law examinations. Generally, however, this part of the Congress programme does not appear to be achieving any considerable success.

The position in Gu-Jerat continues to improve. More village officers have withdrawn their resignations, and in several districts the collection of land revenue is proceeding better than was expected. The economic position in Bombay City is deteriorating. On August 1 six mills closed down, involving 13,000 operatives. It is anticipated that other mills will close in the early future owing to inability to finance further production. The economic effects of the civil disobedience movement are not confined to Bombay, although they were perhaps, most pronounced in that city. In Amristan, which is an important centre, the piece goods trade ban on foreign goods resulted in locking up a very large amount of capital, with the inevitable consequences that trade and finance were seriously affected, and that the movement of Indian-made goods is impeded. It is reported that sales of piece goods dropped in the month of June from an average of 25 to 2 lakhs. The Madras Government reports that in several places large numbers of weavers have been thrown out of employment owing to the civil disobedience movement. The operation of economic forces may be expected to encourage increasing opposition to the continuance of the movement. Subject to the above remarks, the position in the various provinces is as stated in last week’s appreciation.