INDIAN UNREST.

Hokitika Guardian, 13 March 1922, Page 1

INDIAN UNREST.

AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION

MONTAGU’S RESIGNATION. LONDON, March 10.

The Australian Press Association learns that Mr Montagu (ex-Secretary for India) will explain the causes of his resignation to his constituents at Cambridge to-morrow. There are promises that his speech will fa© a most sensational one. He will attack the Premier, Mr Lloyd George, for his alleged unjustifiable view of Mr Montagu’s action in permitting the publication of tW Viceroy, Lord Reading’s telegram. He will also deal with Lord Curzon’s attitude regarding the Middle East problems and the conflict of his attitude with Indian aspirations.

Mr Montagu will endeavour to prove that Lord Curzon could have stopped the publication of the Viceroy’s message if he had desired. Mr Montagu will read out his own telegram from the Viceroy, which Mr Lloyd George had so far refused to publish, on the ground that it would aggravate the effects of the manifesto of the Indian Government re peace with Turkey, already published Mr Montagu will declare that Mr Lloyd George lias got rid of him, not because of the publication of this document, but owing to his desire to catch th e “Die-ha»d” Conservative votes at the general election. Mr Montagu contends that he has been sacrificed to the political exigencies of the moment.

MR MONTAGU’S SPEECH. LONDON, March 11

Mr Montagu, late Indian Secretary, addressing his constituents, said: The country should welcome Mr Lloyd George’s return to the principle ot Cabinet responsibility. The genius of the dictators now ruling had, on many occasions, reached epochal decisions without consulting the Cabinet, the inot notable recent instance being his decision to invite Rjuaeia. to Genoa Later, Colonel Amery, without Cabinet authority, had published the Admiralty’s reply to the Geddes 'Economy ro port. The real explanation or his (Montagu’s) dismissal was that, in view of the threatened collapse of the Government, Mr Lloyd George wanted to offer his head on charger to the Conservatives. Every member of the Cabinet had had a copy of the Indian despatch ;i week prior to its liberation for publication Lord Curzon, or any one else could have vetoed its publication if they had wanted to. No one did &o. Lord Curzoa, indeed whose policy of missed *ind bungled opportunities had) disastrously embarrassaassed his policy in India, instead of raising the question in the Cabinet wrote him (Montagu) after the Cabinet meeting a hectoring protest against the proposed step He (the speaker) liad often been on the verge of resigning, but he had carried on, hoping that ho would be able to show India and the Moslems that Britain’s pledges had not been irretrievably broken.

In concluding, he said lie had offered to resign his seat in Paruiament hut the meeting refused this, and passed unanimously a vote of confidence in him.

LORD DERBY NEW SECRETARY. LONDON, March 11. The “Daily Chronicle” states Mr Lloyd George has invited Lord Derby to take up the position of Secretary for India. AN INDIAN THREAT. WASHINGTON, March 11. Those representing Dr Ghandi, in America state that Ghandi if arrested, will be the signal in India for an outbreak staggering in history. Tt is declared Dr Ghandi is the only person able to hold the extremists in check. His arrest would remove the restraint on violence. DR GANDHI ARRESTED. DELHI, March 11. Dr Ghandi the Indian Nationalist leader, has been arrested at Amhedabad. Tlie ground of the arrest was a charge of sedition. BOYCOTTED AGAIN. DELHI, Marhc 10.

The last sage of the Prinoe’s visit to Delhi was marred by tlie usual manifestation of hostility by the adherents of Dr Ghandi. A hartal, which was proclaimed at Rawelpindi, yesterday to extend over three days, became general in the Indian quarters to-day. The shops were closed. The wheeled transport was materially reduced by a strike of the taxi drivers. The Ghandi agents endeavoured to prevent the inhabitants from in any way participating in the welcome.

A number of Ghandist ringleaders were arrested.

The Prince stayed in a house which was well removed from the disaffected area, and lie reviewed the troops of The garrison during the morning. It was the largest and best display of British: and Indian units witnessed during the tour.