BRITISH INDIAN PROBLEM.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 975, 16 November 1910, Page 7

BRITISH INDIAN PROBLEM.

—— SOUTH AFRICAN SOLUTION. By Telegraph—Press AESOciation—Copyright. Cape Town, November 14. The* Livingstono-. correspondent .'of "Tlio Times" reports that Sir Francis Hopwood (Permanent Under-Secretary for tho Colonies), while in Capo Town with tho Duko of Connaught, discussed tho British Indian question. He found tho difference with tho Imperial Government comparatively small. A probable solution will bo the repeal of the Act of 1907 and tho adoption of a general emigration law 011 the Australian model, based 011 an education, instead of a racial, basis, South Africa taking the power by regulation to interpret tho test in her own way. Tile effect of this would bo a complete bar to futiiro coloured immigration, but Asiatics would prefer that to public effront. METHOD OP DEPORTATION. Mr. L. W. Bitch, Secretary of the British Indian Committee, staled recently that "the most astounding development of the Indian question in South Africa is tip action of tho Government in deporting South African bom Indians for refusing to produce their passes. Thcso passes aro looked upon as degrading by tho Indians, who cousider their registra- ' tfcn in the Government books a suthcient proof of their identity. AY hat it amounts to is that the South African Government h sentencing men to transportation for this refusal to produce passes, for many of the Indians who have been deported to India have never set foot in that country and do not oven know its speech. The method of operation is disgraceful, for it practically entails tho handmg over of British subjects to a foreign Power for punishment:. AA'hcn an Indian is deported he is* taken by train to the frontier of Portuguese East Africa. There while, tho train is travelling at the rate of twenty or thirty miles an hour ho is released, only to bo rearrested by arrangement by tho Portuguese authorities at the first stop and deported by them to India. Tho deportations to India, 1 though effected by the Portuguese uffii cials, are, however, paid for by tho South » African Government, It is intolerable that such treatment should be meted out ' to British subjects in a British colony, and tho effect of it. in India is bucuining extremely grave."