KENYA COLONY DISPUTE

Hokitika Guardian, 30 July 1923, Page 2

KENYA COLONY DISPUTE

INDIAN PROTEST. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CAIII.K ASSOCIATION. LONDON, July 27. Kenya Indian Delegation now in London, lias cabled the Indian Government, declaring the Imperial Governnient’s decision in connection with Konva dispute is not acceptable on all points. They declare it involves a reduction of Indians permanent status to a position of inferiority and violates the constitutional pledges oi equality within the Empire and also resolutions by the Imperial Con fere nee and joint parliamentary committee. Such a breach of faith cannot restore co-operation and goodwill, but will rather perpetuate and aggravate the racial bitterness. The delegation strongly urge the recall of the delegates to the Imperial Conference, on the ground that it is futile ami humiliating t<> send delegates, if the Government ilouis the conference decisions. They also urge India to refuse to participate in the Empire Exhibition and proceed to institute all possible measures of retaliation.

| The parties of this dispute are the 10,000 whites, the 30,01)0 British Indians. the 2.500,000 of British Africans. The white settlers demand that British Indians shall lie excluded ironi the lands of higher altitudes, that Indian participation in the government of tho country shall he so limited that white dominance will he unassailable, and finally the passing of immigration laws which will discriminate in favotti of white races (off ally nationality) against British Indian subjects. In a manifesto, the British settlers said that the issues were:— I) Ts England to he marked with | the stain of betraying the African native to Eastern rule!' .2) Is the young growth of Christianity and Western civilisation to he supplanted h.v Eastern creeds and superstitutions r i. 3) Is the pioneer and (lie man who. in the words of the Colonial Secretary, "is up against the wilderness" once again, in spite of solemn pledges, to lx: the sport of political opportunism? The Right Hon S. V. Sastri, P. 0., went to l.ondoti to present the ease for the Indians in Kenya. Mr Sastri said: "The dispute that now awaits settlement is iff more than ordinary interest. It is being openly discusser] as a. dispute between the white and coloured person in tho Empire. Rriiuin stands pledged before the world to the doetrine of equality and brotherhood, preeminently within the borders of her Commonwealth. This Commonwealth is not a white Commonwealth, and it no longer stands for the domination ot the white man or the subjection of the coloured. It is to he hoped that the solution, which may he reached in the course of a few weeks, will keep India where she wishes to he—a contented and a proud, because an equal, partner ill the British Commonwealth."]