The Indian Crisis Is A Grave One
'Written for the “ Star ” By Lady Drummond-Hay
'J'HERE COMES A TIME in the life of every' normally-developing individual when he or she wants to be independent and free to live and direct his or her own life. And there comes a time in the history of every nation or people when it wants to be independent, and free to govern itself in the manner and system of its own choice as best it can. A Grave Problem. The problem of India is one of the gravest that confronted us. The day is past when we can consider it only and alone from the standpoint of political and material British interests. We are now in the Age of Renunciation of Force, of the Kellogg Pact, League of Nations, self-deter-mination, disarmament, idealism, pacifism! We must not forget that not only did Britain acquiesce in these Pacts, covenants and instruments, but that we played a leading part in bringing about this “ New Thought ” trend in world policy. It has become the basis and inspiration of a powerful public opinion. Britain no longer has that freedom of action that once was hers. Conservatives, Liberals, Labour—all contributed to that end. Central command and control of Empire no longer rests in London except as a symbol. Australia, New Zealand and Canada have taken to themselves an independence which enables them even to refuse admission of British citizens to their countries from the outside. Canada and the South African Union have their own diplomatic representatives in some capitals. All these facts of change within the Empire cannot be ignored in approaching and dealing with the situation in India.
Keep the Initiative. There is no statesman to-day in England strong enough to defy public opinion at home or abroad. We cannot, and do not desire to, leave out of consideration the very natural ambition to be self-governing, as is evidenced by the work of the Simon Commission. Its findings are certain not to meet the full demands of Indian Nationalists. What is to be done? Defeat in Parliament of the Labour Government’s policy towards India or Egypt is almost certain to return a larger and more radical Labour representation at new elections. To let the problems of India and Egypt drift on, neither solves nor removes them. The initiative should remain in our hands, and not be permitted to slip from The spirit of Woodrow Wilson, which left this earth bitterly disappointed, broken and crushed, is having its revenge from beyond the grave. ( Anglo-American N.S. .Copj'right.)
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Bibliographic details
Star (Christchurch), Issue 19035, 2 April 1930, Page 8
Word Count
425The Indian Crisis Is A Grave One Star (Christchurch), Issue 19035, 2 April 1930, Page 8
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