THE PEOPLE OF INDIA

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2302, 9 November 1914, Page 7

THE PEOPLE OF INDIA

TRADITIONAL LOYALTY TO THE THRONE - SUPPORT FROM ALL, CLASSES The feeling in.lndia towards the war was touched on by the Calcutta,' correspondent of the ."Morning Post" in a message dated September 21: He said: The speeches delivered' in the* United Provinces Legislative Council in the middle of September were, if anything, nibrp remarkable for their obviously sincere loyalty than those delivered in tlio Imperial and Bengal Legislatures and summarised in my previous telegrams. _ The mover of the loyal resolution said that England was at present engaged in a righteous war, and it was the duty of every Indian to help hor in j;he present crisis. There might have' been .differences between the people and the Government, but in this matter they were one. He thought that if Mr. Gokhale's Education Bill had been passed people now ignorant would then havo understood the true situation.

Dr.. Sunderlal, in seconding the resolution, threw an important light on the manner in which .the' mass of Ifidians view the 'situation. While he thought the • fact that the wholo of India was loyally supporting the Government in every way made the resolution superfluous, nevertheless he welcomed it as giving members an opportunity of expressing, their convictions. "The people of India," he proceeded, "have always been loyal to their Kings. In the days of Mohammedan rule Indian soldiers fought the battles of their rulers in every part of the Moghul Empire. The Rajputs of Jodpur fought the battles of the Empire on tlio snowy heights of the Hindukush, and the Maharajah of Jaiporo was the General chosen to fight ill the Deccan for Aurangzib. AVe are glad and proud that the Viceroy is pleased to sond Indian troops to take part in, the war < in Europe. As for ourselves,, we will help the Government in every possible way we can, and, though our part as regards assistance in the operations, of the war is necessarily minor, we are ready to do our utmost whenever the Government is ready to take our help." Prince and Peasant United. Several supporters of the resolution indignantly'repudiated the suggestion made in an unfortunate newspaper, article that expressions of loyalty tram the leaders of every race.and religion might not reflect the views of the masses. Pandit Motilal Meru said: "We have the glorious spectacle of. prince, and peasant, rich and poor, ignorant and educated united in oifering their homage at the foot of the Throne and all they are worth in the service of the Empire. Is it possible to conceive that this unanimity of feeling, this widespread desire to sacrifice all,for their King and country is tho handiwork of a few wire-pullers or agitators with nqthing behind it than the,desire to gain political advantages in the future? To ray mind the position is clear. We have cast in our lot, with the British for good and evil. There, is no going hack for «s.'-, In the success of the British lies our.success and prosperity in their defeat our failure and. ruin. If there were nothing else, at least considerations of Belf-interest demand' our unswerving loyalty to the Throne of England. Wo give it unstintedly in all sincerity, arid pledge ourselves to stand or fall with pur Government."

JAPAN'S WAR WITHGEMANY

THE MIKADO'S DECREE The following ii the text .of the proclamation issued' by the Emperor of 'Japan iu connection with the Japanese ultimatum to. Germany-at the beginning of the war: — , ..< ''' "We, by the Grace of Heaven, Emperor of Japan, seated on the Throne occupied, by the same Dynasty from time immemorial, do hereby make the following proclamation to ali our loyal and brave subjects:— ... V , "We hereby declare war against Germany and we command our Army and Navy to carry on hostilities against that Empire with all their strength,' and we also command all our competent authorities to make every effort, in pursuance of their respective duties, to attain the national aim, by all the means within the limits of the law of nations. "Since.the outbreak .of the present war. in Europe,, the calamitous effects of whioh we view with grave concern, we, on our part,' have entertained hopes of preserving l the peace of the Far East, by the maintenance of strict neutrality. But the action of Germany has at length compelled-Great Britain, our ally, to open hostilities against that country, and Germany is, at Kiao-chau, its leased territory in China, busy with warlike preparations, while its armed vessels cruising the seas ; of Eastern Asia are threatening our commeroe and that of our ally. Tho/peace of the Ear East is thus in jeopardy. Accordingly, our Government and that of His, Britannic Majesty, after a fulland'frank com-, municatioa with cath- other, agreed to take such measures as may bo necessary for the protection of the general interests' contemplated in the Agreement of Alliance, and we, oh our part, being desirous to' attain that object ..by peaceful means, commanded our Government •to offer, with sincerity, an advice to the Imperial German Government. By the last day appointed for the purpose, however, our Government failed to receive an answer accepting their advice. "It is with profound regret that we, in spite of oiir ardent .devotion to the cause of peace,,are thus compelled to. declare' war, especially at this early period of our reign and l whilo we are still in mourning for our lamented mother.

' "It is our earnest wish that, by tie loyalty and valour of our faithful sufar jects, peace may soon be restored and the glory of the'Einpiro be enhanced.", The above was issued on August 23, 1914, on the expiration of tho tinui. limit in the following ultimatum without any reply. from Germany. "Considering it highly important and necessary, in the present situation, to take measures to remove all causes of disturbance to the peace of the Far East and to safeguard tho general interests contemplated by the Agreement of Alliance letiveen Japan and Great Britain, in order to securo a firm and enduring peace in Eastern Asia, establishment of .which is the aim of the said Agreement, tho Imporial Japanese Government sinceroly believe it their duty to give advico to the Imperial German Government to carry out the following two propositions:—, "Ist. To withdraw immediately from tho Japanese and Chinese waters Gorman, men-of-war and armed vessels of all kinds, and to disarm at once those which cannot bo so withdrawn. "2nd. To deliver on a date not later than Soptomber 15, 1914, to the Imperial Japanese authorities, without condi-tion-or compensation, tiie entiro leased territory of.Kiao-chau with a view to eventual restoration of the same to China. ' , ' "The Imperial Japanese Government announce at the same time that in tho ovent of their not receiving by noon August 23, 1914, tho answer of tho Imperial German Government signifying tin unconditional aoceptanco of the above advice offered by tho Imperial Japanese Government, they will bo compelled to take 6uoh action as thoy may deem necessary to meet the situation.."-.