POSITION IN INDIA.

Otago Witness, Issue 4029, 2 June 1931, Page 27

POSITION IN INDIA.

SITUATION IN BURMA. DELHI, May 2G. When the trouble started at ■ Burma the military forces consisted of seven infantry battalions—two British and five Indian Army. Besides artillery auxiliary troops with reinforcements four infantry battalions are now on their way, and five additional companies of military police are to be raised. The forces at the disposal of the Government should be more than adequate to deal with the Burma situation. RUGBY, May 26. The report on the situation in Burma issued by the India Office refers to minor encounters between the Government forces and bodies of rebels in the Tharawaddy, Henzada, and Thayetmyo districts during the past week. None occurred in the Prome district, where rebels are said to have failed to obtain adherents, and are now reduced to about 40, who ate hiding near the Thayetmyo border. Immediate action prevented outbreaks in several districts in Upper and Lower Burma. The communal situation is reported to be under control, although occasional attacks on Indians and Chinese have occurred in several districts. The Rangoon Telegraph, referring to the despatch of troops to-day from India to Burma, says that an official statement has been issued explaining that these are coming to put down the rebellion, to prevent outrages against Indians, and generally to restore law and order. The troops will be stationed at headquarters in all districts where the rebellion continues, with detachments at outstations and other places, mainly in the dry zone, while extra military police will be maintained in the rebel areas.

A CARELESS SMOKER. DELHI, May 25. A fire originating from a workman’s cigarette destroyed costly panelling and a magnificent chandelier in the Viceroy’s house, which is one of the show places of New Delhi. FIRE IN MINE. DELHI, May 26. Forty-seven coolies perished in a fire at the . Nundydroog gold mine, in the . Mysore State. Several rescue workers were overcome by fumes. MYSTERIOUS EPIDEMIC. DELHI, May 28. Thirty-six people, including two European nuns, died in a day at the Good Shepherd convent at Balgalore. It is believed that the deaths were caused by cholera. UGLY SITUATION DEVELOPING. DELHI, May 28. An ugly situation is developing in the Bardoli district, Bombay, where a nontax campaign was started three years ' / ago. Agriculturists are now refusing to pay their overdue land revenue, which is one of the terms of the Gandhi-Irwin agreement, saying that they have no money. The local government threatens coercive measures. The unpaid revenue amounts to nearly £32,000. The situation at present is full of dangerous possibilities. Mr Gandhi has proceeded to Bardoli in an endeavour to reach a settlement. HOSTILITY TOWARDS INDIANS. DELHI, May 28. General hostility towards Indians is increasing alarmingly in Burma, and there is an exodus of the fdrmer from Burma. Steamers are leaving Rangoon crowded with thousands of traders and coolies. Many of the traders’ homes and crops have been destroyed. The economic distress connected with the Burma revolt is said to be partly due to cheap Indian labour ousting Burmans from the agricultural districts and creating unemployment by under-selling. ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE. RUGBY, May 29. An India Office communique states that the British Government and the Government of India have been discussing the date for the resumption of the Indian Round Table Conference. The choice lay between summoning the Fed- . eral Structure Committee to this country at the end of June, which would involve meeting in August, or postponing the resumption until September. In the latter case the interval would be employed in pressing on with certain neces sary work both in London and in India. The British Government was prepared . to adopt the first course if all sections found it to be practicable. Inquiries, however, have shown that this alternative is seriously inconvenient to several members of the committee both at Home and in India. The later date therefore is unavoidable, but constitutional advance is a matter of so much moment to India that the resumption of the Round Table Conference cannot be postponed beyond the beginning of .... September. The British Government, therefore, has decided to invite the Federal Structure Committee to reassemble in London not later than September 5 for resumption of work at the earliest practicable date thereafter. If a communal settlement has been reached in India by that time the work of the Federal Structure Committee will be greatly facilitated. If not it will be

a matter for consideration whether the Minorities Committee should resume work about the same time. The question of adding representatives to the Federal Structure Committee is under active consideration. INDIAN WOMEN’S CONFERENCE. CALCUTTA, May 29. It is officially stated that the Federal Structure Committee of the Round Table Conference will resume its London talks not later than September 5. Mr Gandhi will attend the Indian Women’s Conference, which is ’ urging that more women delegates should be appointed, and has submitted a panel of names to the Viceroy. HINDUS AND MOSLEMS. CALCUTTA, May 30. Cawnpore was again the scene of a fierce clash between Hindus and Moslems following tlie fatal stabbing of a Hindu by a Moslem. The police were forced to fire, and one man was killed and 24 injured.