The Dominion. FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1915. INDIA AND THE EMPIRE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2401, 5 March 1915, Page 4

The Dominion. FRIDAY, MARCH 5, 1915. INDIA AND THE EMPIRE

The remarkable strength of India's resources as disclosed in the annual statement _ of tho Indian Finance Minister is a most convincing proof of the success of British rule. The summary oi tho statement, which appeared in yesterday's issue of .The Dominion, gives one the impression of financial stability and justifiable confidence. Britain's great' Asiatic dependency is in a splendid position to meet the strain of war. It is true that there will he a deficit for the current year ol £2,750,000.' It was quite inevitable that India would feel the effects of the gigantic struggle in which the Empire is engaged, and taking all the circumntanccs into consideration the deficit is surprisingly small, and in view of the fact that it is due to temporary and special causes the Government does not intend to pose ' additional taxation. The Budget Estimates for the year 191415 anticipated an expenditure of £83,732,900, and - a revenue of £85,032,700, but the cost of sending troops to the front, and the fall in Customs, and Railway receipts caused by tho war are items which did not enter into the calculations of those who framed the Estimates. Thesa unforeseen contingencies are no doubt almost entirely responsible for the conversion of an expected surplus of £1,279,800 into an actual deficit of £2,750,000. _ Of late years the finanoes of. have been showing a marked _ improvement, and the Administration .is able to deal with the new situation without serious embarrassment. Tho Finance Minister tells us that "India has been much buffeted, but the inherent strength of her financial and economic position has-been, demonstrated at every turn." The magnificent loyalty of India in the present crisis has delighted the Empire and astonished the .world, and the solid manner in which she is standing the economic strain of the war is as gratifying to every Britisher as it is disconcerting to our enemies. The position. is materially strengthened by the satisfactory agricultural outlook. The rains have been abundant, and the crops promise to bo exceptionally bountiful. The original Estimates provided for an^ expenditure on railways and irrigation of £11,672,700, and of £666,700 ( the new Delhi capital. The Government still intends to carry oit the irrigation programme in its entirety, but will reduce the amount to bo spent on railways, and only. £250,000, will now bo devoted to the Delhi scheme. "Sober/confidence" is the keynote of the Budget. Tho whole Empire will be glad to know that "India has steadily faced all her obligations without having to fall back on outside resources or on any extraordinary measures.for help." It is no exaggeration to say that the manner in which Britain has ruled'this great territory, covering an area of. 1,800,000 square miles, and containing a population of 315,000,000 people of many different religions and races, is One of tho wonders of the world. The country has been administered in tho best interests of its own inhabitants, and not merely exploited for the benefit of its conquerors. As a matter of fact it is not strictly correct to speak of l India as a conquered country. Professor Sf.eley declares that "the expression _ 'conquest' as applied to the acquisition of sovereignty by the East India Company in India is not merely loose, but thoroughly misleading." In an interesting pamphlet entitled "Why India is Heart and Soul with Great Britain," Bhupendranath Basu, an ex-member o'f the Legislative Council in India, states that India has never felt that she was a conquered country, and the Indians do not feel that they arc a conquered people. In the eighteenth century the country had become a prey to anarchy and confusion. The help of tho English was sought by rival States or harassed populations, and the battle of Plassey, which laid the foundations of British rule, was fought practically with " Indian soldiers. The writer referred to states that "it was solely with India's money, and mostly with Indian blood, that the British Empire in India was built up and consolidated." However that may be, British rule undoubtedly brought peace and prosperity to a sorelytried and much-divided people, and it has been characterised by a high sense of justice and duty. .The responsibility of power, andfthe subordination of might to right, has never been more definitely or more impressively stated than in' the great proclamation issued in 1858 by Queen Victoria to the people of India:

We hold Ourselves bound to tho native of Our Indian 'territories (says this historic document) "by the same obligations of duty which bind Us to all Our other subjicfei nod Own obllMtiotia, by tin hle&tins oi Mmichtr. G«l We dull

faithfully and conscientiously fulfil.. It is Our earnest desire to stimulate the peaceful industry of India, to promote works of public utility ami improvement, and to administer its government for tho benefit of all Our subjects resident therein: In their prosperity will be Our strength; in their contentment Our security; and in their gratitude Our best reward. And may the God of all power grant to Us and those in authority under Us strength to carry out these Our wishes for the good of Our people.

This charter of rights holds up a very high standard of government. It has placed 'beforo the British officials a noble ideal. Some people may regard it as a counsel of perfection too lofty for practical application in the sphere of statecraft. But there it stands as an inspiration and incentive to every man holding a position of responsibility in the Government of India- to do whatever duty may be entrusted to him to the best of bis ability- British rule has not been perfect. Mistakes have been made, arid trouble has been caused by tne_ unwisdom and inefficiency of individual officials; but on tnc whole the country has been administered with justice and sympathy. Tbe Proclamation of 1858 has never been regarded as a mere scrap of paper. If the ideal it sets up has never been completely realised, much has been achieved. Peaceful industry has been stimulated, works of public utility and improvement have been promoted, and the government has been administered for the benefit . of the people. The overwhelming majority of the population rccognise and appreciate the advantages of British rule, only an infinitesimal fraction being tainted with political disaffection. The war gave the princes and people of, India a splendid opportunity of proving their loyalty to King and Empire, and they have done so, in a way that has left no room for even a shadow of doubt. Ungrudgingly and unreservedly they have placed their services and their resources at Britain's disposal, and some of them have already laid down their lives on the battlefield.