INDIAN AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 March 1933, Page 3

INDIAN AFFAIRS

ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE V GOVERN MENT. - LETTERS- TO COMMONS MEMBERS , LONDON, January 17. •Members' of Parliament have lately been;‘ receiving letters from their constituents revealing a sudden and unexpected interst in Indian- problems, and - urging members to oppose the policy of the Government-. The similarity in the letters has- led to- investi-gation,-a-hdi it appears that the inrpiration lias come'from a. circular letter issued by tlib executive committee of the Indian Empire Society to its members. -v' ■ The letter is as follows:—, “The executive 5 Committee of the Indians Empire Society strongly bold the view that at the present critical juncture-of the Indian question it is s son ti ally necessary thnlt the real nature and the very far-reaching importance of the great issues involved in it should, be pressed with the utmost urgency on- tlie immediate attention of members of the House of Oom--inons.

“The Committee considers that much can be done to secure this object by moans of suitable letters written by private individualt:,,, as electors, to their respective members of Parliament. -Such individuals' need not, of course, be restricted to members of ‘the -Indian Empire Society. “Some specimen letters are enclosed in order to indicate-, the kind of com - humication which will be suitable; All the letter? actually written by electors 'need not, of course, be., confined to ' the matter or to the form of the specimen's. .The main object, is 'to .preF effectively the important points and issues .involved, in the Indian question, or some of them, on the attention of ■niambers - of- Parliament; in urgent v.c-rrr,s. .

“The executive committee of the Indian. Empire (Society ventures to- request you to 1 aissist it in this project.It' would, he very grateful if you would inot only yourself address your memher on the . lin&s su'gge'sfed, but: would also make .a . .point .of ip during; a,s many of your friends as, possible, Iwhether. members, of- the Indian Jhn:piro So-siety ; or. not,- to take similar action at »i v,&y ..early date; “It is Very desirable, that the letters to be written . by. electors- should, be. •autograph, letters- by individuals, and rot joint .communications.. from,.several injlividtrals. =-. . , i “By order of the executive committee.” - ~-i - S AMPLE LETTERS’. Sample letters follow -im an appendix. iti’.ei;. 'soipie';, of fthe isug-f. gest-ed communications:.:. If I h'eno you are making a stand with •Mr Churchill aga'itsf calf Government i giving away in India all that -Clive ■and Warren' Hastings and our great ‘hren in the past fought for and won. !. Will you rsvure me that you are opposed to the policy of drift that -the National Government seems to be pursuing? I am- worried about India. . It seems to me that the- National Government Ins pimply adopted the policy o,f the late b’o'-ialist Government with regard to administration. /s one of your supporters at the last' General Election, I want your as- ■ snranjee - that a 1? regards the future government rf India, von agree with the views, of. Mr, Churchill. It seems to ire that the safety of 'lndia- !,s more important- oven than the 'NaVoned Government. .Can you reassure me regarding your views on li’dia ? I hope you agree w-tli me that, to give away responsibility at the centre till autonomy in .the provinces has had a fair trial will be a criminal folly. . We all look to you to he a realist ‘in. a- Parliament which seem's, pn thjis--sub’cnt. he guided by sentiment. . It is considered that the Indian Empire Society. ,wh>eh. .consists largely, of ex-Indian Civil ‘Service men, wjll do, less ( good, by these rpady-xnadq letters than by a direct statement of its i views,.