The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, MARCH. 28th, 1922. WATCHING INDIA.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1922, Page 2

The Hokitika Guardian TUESDAY, MARCH. 28th, 1922. WATCHING INDIA.

The unrest which is so palpable in India is a. matter for grave concern. One of the speakers at -the Opera House last week touched the fringe of the Indian trouble in bis race over the countries'of the globe. M hat be said suggested very pointedly that all was not well, and that the British authorities had lie on the close watch in regard to internal developments. Incidentally, lie remarked further, that it was not advisable to take too literally all that was said through the cabled news by the last English mail came- London papers which c omment freely on he situation in India and the East, as a result of Lord Norfchcliffe’s outspoken comment on his travels and what lie was gleaning. In one paper the comment was followed up by an article, from an Indian Prince who happened to he in England, and who expressed pleasure, as a friend of Britain that public attention was being directed towards India, which would be welcomed to nil friends of British Government in India. He went on to say that it cannot he too often impressed upon the Englishman at home that things, particularly Eastern things are not always what they seem. History in modern Europe has been repeating itself in India. With reference to India two facts must, be remembered. Tli© secret of British power or shall we say the seal of Anglo-Indian friendship?—was religion. The Mahommedan Persians who conquered India and the native Hindus were constantly at war, and neither knew peace nor religions liberty util India became pari of the' Britirfi Empire pd in ft*

turn for allegiance security and the right to worship as it chose. Religious difficulties in India settled down under “the King’s peace”—in other words, the supreme power that held the scales oven, and while none could sa v that the British Government showed religious bias there was little danger from the sedition-mongers and fanatics. But in a great country like India, where British power stands be- , tween peoples of different race, colour l aud| religion, there is always the possibility of mischief, and religion is ever the torch whereby men’s passions are inflamed. Things in India have not been as they seem for many years but it was difficult for agitators to find a pretext for disaffection. So hard put to it were they that they used the Durbar stamp of 1911 as an excuse, urging that the Order of the Elephant on his Majesty’s breast was a pig (the animal is certainly badly drawn I), and therefore u deliberate insult to loyal Mahommedans. I magi lie, then, the joy of these same agitators when they have as they conceive a real grievance in the weakening of the Caliphat! Curiously enough, for purposes of sedition religious differences are forgotten and Hindu and Mahommedan agitators unite in denouncing the British tyrant. And, indeed, all Mahommedans ask themselves at times whether the Englishman at home remembers that Britain is the greatest Mahommedan Power in the world and that the opinions, the susceptibilities, and even the idfeals of Islam should be consulted in matters concerning it. Failure to do so is not only discourteous and politically unwise, but also it gives agitators grounds for abuse and enables them to utter the slogan of religious persecution—the cry that never yet failed to inflame people. It is easy to start the prairie fire of disaffection. But once it is well alight in India, where will it end? These views emphasise the gravity of the situation in India, and suggest that the British authorities cannot lie too alert to possibilities.