BRITISH AFRICA’S FUTURE

Hokitika Guardian, 12 May 1923, Page 1

BRITISH AFRICA’S FUTURE

FEAR OF ASIATIC DOAII NATION. NAIROBI, March 23. The claims of the Indians in this Colony of Kenya, formerly British East Africa, provide one of the chief reasons why development is retarded and capital not forthcoming. A few years ago the claims were for modest representation on local bodies in view of the fact that tho Indians had large vested trade interests. But now they have become a demand for complete political equality with the whites; equality of rights to hold land ; equal representation in the Legislature with a common adult franchise roll, ami also the right to live in European residential areas. Climatic conditions force Europeans to live in limited areas in the highlands, and the Duke ol Devonshire, the Colonial Secretary, desires to reserve those.

Europeans whose homes and families arc established in Konya, including a large number of ex-soldiers whose war service capital has been invested in i-'.riciil’lire here, are lighting the Tn•lian claim to a common franchise and ask that the immigration of Asiatics should he controlled because they believe that, uncontrolled, tbe influx ol rndiaus must lead inevitably to Asiatic domination in Britain’s African tropical possessions by tbe squeezing out of the while settlement owing to the Asiatic lower standard of living. THREAT TO RHODESIA. Also thov believe that it must lead in the En-lernising of the natives of Kenya and surrounding territories and by penetration offer n grave risk of a -iniilar position in Rhodesia ami in the Union of South Africa. The Indian leaders*, encouraged by

London and Delhi. have now assumed tlmt they hold a brief for :t!l the Indians in the Empire and candidly admit that their agitation is no longer regarded as local but as the lii st step to the equality of Asiatics in all the Dominions. The Church and the missionaries while politically neutral, are opposed most stronsly to the grant of anyth! tiff more than a limited representation on a eoniiminal basis to the Indians and are also opposed very strongly to nnrestrioted immigration, because of the da lifter in the future to the natiies. The Indians are ]>ciTonning now a class of work for which natives arc fitted and which natives expect as a right. A lona view indicates that unless Indian immigration is restricted Africans will he unable .effectively .to develop industrially owing to Indian competition. A very great majority of the Indians here -are of the working class and entirely unfitted to exercise political privileges. They do not understand the controversy and are anxious oiily to he allowed to work peacefully in a country which is better limn Tnrlin. SELF-DETXDED LEADERS. But the trouble is caused hv half a dozen extremist leaders who are selfdeluded bv phrases such as the acid and ilie touchstone of India’s position in the Empire.

The European community is most willing to give domiciled Indians adequate representation and other political privileges wheh are not likely to involve the great danger of Asiatic domination over Africans who have little regard for Indians. The fate of white settlement and the fate of the Western civilisation of Africans hang in the balance. It is

eaTnestly hoped here that the Cabinet in its deliberations will remember that the question is the future of Africa and Africans, and not the temporary plaeation of the extremists in India.