A LANCE FOE THE INDIANS.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1922, 3 December 1913, Page 7

A LANCE FOE THE INDIANS.

DEPUTATION TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE. MINISTER SYMPATHETIC. GROUNDS FOR INQUIRY* By Tolccraph-PreM Association-G'onrrislrt Pietcrmnritzfrurg, December 1. A thousand Indians hold a meeting in the Hindu Temple and passed :i resolution requesting the appointment of a Commission of Inquiry rerardiii"- the alleged flogging of " Indians. Leo Copaul asked which they placed tho greater reliance on—the word of Lord Gladstone (the Governor-Genera!) or that of the Hon. Gopal Krishna Gokhale, representative of non-official members of Bombay Legislature on tho Viceroy's Legislative Council. Tho former was simply a puppet in the hands of General Smuts (Minister of Finance and Defence). The meeting concluded with three cheers for Mr. Ghandhi (leader of the passive resistance movement), who is now iu prison, and one for tlie King. (Rec. December 2, 10.10 p.m.) London, December 2. Tlio Indian South African League sent a deputation to the Marquis'of Crewo (Secretary of State for India), demanding an inquiry regarding the treatment of Indians in South Africa, and asking for tho intervention of tho Imperial Government with a view to securing tho rights of citizens for Indians throughout tho Empire. Sir Mancherjee Bhownagrce alluded to the brand of unfitness imposed upon Indians by certain British colonists. It was tho Imperial Government's duty, ho said, to mediate. Tho deputation asked for the release of tho passive resistors and Hie removal of the. racial bar, and tho abolition of tho poll-tax Lord Crewo admitted that the material for inquiry existed, and said the Government was prepared to accept tlio result of General Smuts's personal inquiries, but would welcome a iionoffieial investigation. Iu tho interests of Imperial solidarity ho deprecated anyone menacing South Africa. Tho South African Government contended that though tho immigration laws were restrictive, owing to tho demands of South African opinion, yet they had been so easily operated that- no practical grievance existed. Some minor officials might havo indulged in stupid red tapeism, while others might bo so racially prejudiced that thoy would not desire to administer tho'laws leniently.

Tho Indians had not claimed that South Africa ought to legalise polygamy, but, said the speaker, polygamous communities demanded reasonable consideration. India had been deeply stirred, and though every statement need not bo adopted as proved fact, yet it was evident that grounds existed for serious disquiet. Mr. Glfandi was a man of high ideals, nt tho same time tho South Afiicau Ministers were honestly anxious to see tho laws humanely administered. He felt bound to add that the South African leaders were often hampered by tho existence of a less enlightened public opinion. The poll-tax of £3 did not bring a largo revenue, and did not seem to servo any useful purpose. Tho stories of flogging, ho added, demanded some inquiry.

Pretoria, December 1. General Smuts has returned after making inquiries. _' ••■■■'■■ Durban, December I. ■ The Government continues to,refuse to discuss the Indians' grievances until order lias been restored and tho strike abandoned. ALLEGATIONS OF FLOGGING. "Times"—Sydney "Sun" Special Cables. (Rec. December 2, 6.20 p.m.) Johannesburg, December 1. At a meeting of Indians, Messrs. Hoskon and Ritch, Labour members, asserted that it was true that men had been flogged. Thoy had seen marks on their bodies, and heard people in the mines admit that they had Hogged the Indians,