INDIAN CRISIS IN NATAL.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1918, 28 November 1913, Page 7

INDIAN CRISIS IN NATAL.

SITUATION COMPROMISED, BY INDISCREET SPEECH IN HIGH PLACES, SHARP PRESS COMMENT. By Telesraph—Pree« Aesoi!ia.Uon—Copyright (Rec. November 27, 11.10 p.in.) Madras, November 27. Replying to an address presented by the Indian Mercantile Association and the Madras Provincial Congress Committee, wherein retaliatory measures were urged in connection with the Indian trouble in South Africa, the Viceroy; Lord Hardinge, recalled that when the emigration of indentured labourers to Natal was forbidden in 1911, tho Nalal planters had begged the Indian Government's reconsideration 'of the matter. This was an indication of how hardly tho prohibition had hit them. Unfortunately, he added, it was difficult to find a means to make the South African Government seriously feel tho strength of India's indignation. Lord Hardingo strongly expressed his personal sympathy with tho Indians' resistance to these invidious and unjust laws. Though the Union Government categorically denied the barbaric retaliatory measures alleged against them, the denial, said Lord Hardinge, contains an admission indicating that tile Government did not exercise the right discretion in dealing with the situation.

LONDON PRESS COMMENT. (Rec. November 28, 0.30 a.m.) t , . London, November 27. iho "Daily Mail's" Calcutta eorrospondont says that the general opinion in India is that Lord Hardingo has made the confusion of the situation worse. The "Daily Chronicle" savs that neither General Botha {the Union Premier) nor Lord Hardingo was careful in his language, and particularly regrets that the latter should have undmlomatically added fuel to the-lire. _ The "Daily News" insists that it is incumbent upon tho Imperial Government to stop in without delay. | The "Times of India" fails to see how General Botha's speech will allay suspicion. If there is no ill-treatment--suggests the "Times"—then tho Government has nothing to fear from an inquiry. A leading vernacular .jir/ier in Bombay attacks Lord Gladstone's dispatch as a "flagrant piece of official hardihood." Passionate meetings have been lioM throughout India, and £10.001) daily is being subscribed to the relief of'tlic Indians in Natal. West's arrest is regarded as a severe blow. Durban, November 28. Twelve hundred Indians have resumed work on tho Natal estates. All is quiet at Pietermaritzlmi'g, but uneasiness continues in Zululaud. Largo sums of monev from overseas' continue- to arrive at the Indian headquarters. Extra, .police have been sent to Tongnat, wlip-ro the Indians refused to listen to Mr. Polkinghorno, protector of Indian immigrants. Router's Cape Town correspondent states that Rhodesia-is.-.offering unemployed Indians in Natal agricultural employment at the rate of: £10 monthly, and travelling expenses. London', November 26. , Replying to a request by the All-India ! South African League, Mr. Lewis Harcourt. Secretary of' State, for the Colonies, regrets that ho is unable to receive a- deputation concerning tho disturbances. However, he is prepared to consider any written statement. HINDU PROBLEM IN BRITISH COLUMBIA. Vancouver, November 2G. The Hindu problem is likely to become acute again in British Columbia. Forty Hindus arrived by direct steamer from India and demanded admission, but tho immigration authorities rcf-nsou to allow them to enter. The. Hindus appealed to the British Columbian Courts, and after- litigation the Provincial Supremo Court declared that the Dominion regulation governing the admission of Hindus was ultra- vires in several particulars.

The case is likely to be brought to the Imperial Privy Council. Meanwhile other .'batches of Hindus arc arriving in Western Canada. Tho Liberals demand the passing of a Federal Exclusion Act to immediately deal with tho question.