INDIAN AGITATION

Hokitika Guardian, 6 May 1930, Page 2

INDIAN AGITATION

side with Government,

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copy right. J

DELHI, May 4

Two hundred rich Bengal landholders have written to the Viceroy, assuring him of their support of any Government measures to ensure order and declaring that the .Government has the united and whole-hearted support of-a great majority of the people of India. The landholders characterise Gandhi’s letters with the Viceroy as “provokingly insulting,” and congraulate the Government on their readiness to take up a challenge l>v men who seek to break down these principles of law and order which Indians enjoyed unaer British rule. The Viceroy, in his reply, stated thpt G(\ndhi and the Indian National Congress leaders had pursued a course of action which could only lead to violence throughout India. He added that the attempt to maintain the campaign of civil disobedience on a non-violent basis had failed, as it was bound to do, and had unchained dangerous forces. It was the duty of himself and the Government to maintain, the authority of the law, ana they intended to’ do so. In Bombay, Europeans have written to Governor Sykes, demanding firmer action regarding the maintenance of law and order, find requesting the arrest of all who incite the people to break the law. The Europeans state they are of opinion that the present policy is wrongly interpreted and, that the law is being brought into" contempt. They also urge the use of counter propaganda by the Government.

The Nationalist agitators are unsucceisfuly endeavouring to foment interest among the tribesmen on the northwest frontier, and Peshawar and the surrounding villages have been deluged with leaflets 'by the Youth Leagpe members and Communists carrying red flags, and the hammer and.,sickle, Soviet badges..

y,SSNTRY;, SHOOTS EUROPEAN,

DELHI, May 3

.-Another Chittagong "tragedy occurred'/in the early, hours' of this morn.-; jjitg.* When Mr E. A. Provan was patrolling near , the railway workshops at' Pahartali, three miles from Chittagong, he was challenged by the sentry. Mr Pro van/ who was the production engineer on ti e Assam-Bengal 'railway, ’ flashed a torch at the sentry, jvho promptly shot him dead.