RALLY OF MODERATES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 68, 17 September 1930, Page 11

RALLY OF MODERATES

PROSPECTS IMPROVE

ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE

British Official Wireless.

(Received 17tli September, 11 a.in.) BTJGBY, 16th September. The Government of India, in its usual •weekly survey of the situation, says: — "The general trend of public opinion toutside Congress circles regarding the J>reaMown of the recent peaco conversations is to lay the responsibility on Congress leaders. Absence of anything in the nature of a practical constructive programme shows how far the Congress leaders are from everyday affairs of administration, especially in tho provinces, 6inee acceptance of their proposals would condomn the reformed Provincial Governments at the beginning of the now constitution, to financial stagnation, and would deprive them indefinitely of moans of carrying out progressive policy iv fields of education, medical relief, scientific agriculture, and other beneficient activities.

"Their proposal that picketing should continue even after the civil disobedience movement is abandoned is also unpopular, since its represents action in restraint of trade, which wouM prejudicially affect tho interests of thousands of Indian traders without any limit of time. The trading community is realising more than ever tho significance of Congress tyranny, and this particular threat is likely to hasten a revolt against their methods. Moderate opinion is rallying in support of the Indian Bound Table Conference as the agency through "which practical issues can be exam- j ined and discussed in an atmosphere of reason and goodwill. TENDENCY TO VIOLENCE. Meatwhile, says the survey, there is a progressive decline in enthusiasm in places where the Congress activities vero prominent early in the civil disobedience campaign and in places to which the movement has recently extended vigorous action has more rapid and effective results than similar measures had a, few months ago. Nevertheless, the need for such action has been increased by the growing tendency to violence shown by the rank and file. •The profession of non-violence has been frequently ignored, and force has been required to restore authority.

The success achieved by the Congress in boycott of the elections to legislative bodies has varied in different places. Broadly speaking, tho Mohammedans will not tolerate interference in elections to seats reserved for their community, and the Congress has left them alone. In regard to non-Mohammedan seats the success of the Congress is most marked in some of the Gujerat districts, where comparatively few Hindus voted.

The educational boycott, says the survey is definitely on tho decline, and 3ikely to fail within a few weeks, The main activities of the Congress will then probably be the boycott of foreign gooda and no-tax campaign,, the latter aimed at enlisting tho sympathies of the rural classes. Attempts may be made ,to revive breaches of the Salt Laws. -.

Regarding the North-West frontier, except at the head of the Kurram Val3ey, .where a fair amount of sporadic fighting oocurred, the tribal areas of the province remained quiet du:ng the week. It was reported that an emissary from Kabul had reached the hostile tribesmen in the Peiwar area with orders from the King and the Prime Minister of Afghanistan to cease their activities.