MOMENTOUS CHANGES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7701, 9 May 1903, Page 4

MOMENTOUS CHANGES.

THE INDIAN VICEROY'S WARNING AS TO ASIA.

In- the discussion on the Indian Budget, in the Legislative Council, on March 25, Lord. Curzon said that silent but momentous changes were faking place in Asia, bringing India into the vortex of the world's politics, and making the Indian Foreign Office the Asiatic branch of the Home Foreign Office. Russia, with ber great ambitions, her unarrested advance, her competitors, ber allies, was upon li> dia's borders, and Turkey, Persia, France, China and Tibet were added to Arghaniatan as India's neighbours in a continent, which, unlike Europe, was still in flux.

There was no new development, bub great changes were inevitable. Aa European Powers crept' up to the frontier through States containing within themselves the inevitable seeds of decay, and transferring east-ward what had hitherto been European situations, anxiety must increase and not diminish. India must therefore keep her forcesi efficient, her defences secure, her schemes of action well worked out.

His Highness the Aga Khan, the recognised bead of an important section) of the Indian Mahommedan community, has sug* gested to tho Viceregal Council thafc tbs enfciro armies of the Native States should be placed under the Commandeiwn-'Ohief, and that British officers should be appointed to them, with a view to enabling the •great Indian feudatories to take a legitimate share of the defence of the Empire.