Will Russia Want to Annex India ?

Grey River Argus, 30 January 1948, Page 5

Will Russia Want to Annex India ?

CHRISTCHURCH. Jan 29.

The opinions that the Mongol Empire would be re-established and that India would probably be annexed by Russia within the next few years, were expressed by Sir Richard Tute, a former member of the Indian Civil Service, who is staying in Christchurch. in an interview yesterday. Sir Richard Tute, who had a distinguished service with the Indian Civil Service, is making his first visit to New Zealand for 40 years. He was in the service from 1898 to 1931 and served on Gallipoli and in France during the Great War. In 1919 he was appointed district judge in Galilee Palestine, and in 1921 was appointed president of the Samarian Land Court. Several years later he was appointed president of Jerusalem Land Court. He was called to the Middle Temple Bar in 1926. There was an undying hatred between members of different religions in India and there was a subsidiary hatred between those of high and low castes. The high caste Hindus had realised that if the attempts of the British to educate the lower class Hindus, who comprised nearly 95 per cent, of the Hindu population, succeed, they would lose all their privileges. Some ’-esponded by preparing for war while others followed Gandhi’s passive resistance course SMALL MINORITY

The movement was represented as a movement for representative government by all Indians whereas it was reallv only a movement by about 5 per cent, of the Hindu population, said Sir Richard Tute. Increased agitation was made and as a result the British found that it was becoming impossible to rule the country. "The Mohammedans saw that they would be swamped if they were not given a separate area of Government and the Pakistan compromise has resulted,” he added. Sir Richard Tute said that Pakistan would become a buffer State and would be unable to fulfil the function the British fulfilled. “What can be expected is an Afghan invasion, supported by Russian advisers influence, arms and possibly troops. The ostensible object would probably be the recreation of the Mongol Empire and the ultimate result could hardly fail to be the annexation of India’ by the U.S.S.R. The Indian Congress leaders are probably beginning to realise that in getting rid of the British they have dug a pit for their own feet. The high caste population corresponds to the Russian kulaks and if and when Russia assumes control they will be liquidated as the kulaks were.” Sir Richard Tute said that he could not see any hope of a peaceful settlement in Palestine. 'There were fierce hatreds between Jews and Arabs and there would be war to the knife. The partitioning would have little or no effect.

t Sir Richard Tute is the author 01 “A Commentary on the Ottoman Land Code” and “After Materialism— What?” He is also joint author of a metrical translation of Omar Khayyam and inventor of the Tute ranging protractor for artillery.