INDIANS IN AFRICA.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 49, 22 February 1912, Page 8

INDIANS IN AFRICA.

London, February 20. In the House of Lords, Lord Emmott, replying to Lord Ampthill regardipg. the status of Indians in South Africa, said he believed the situation was improving. The Union Ministers had tried to meet the Government. on important points. Lord Selhorne declared that without under-rating the Indian case it was necessary to understand the South African view. It was a question of Eastern and Western civilisation. Indian competiton was serious if not restricted and would cause the European trader to disappear, unless tradesmen were subjected to similar competition. English opinion would not remain as impartial as now. It was an unsound argument to say .that all kinds of subjects had the same rights in all parts of the Empire. The special interests of each should be the first consideration. South Africans desired to restrict immigration while treating those domiciled in the country fairly.

Lord Crewe hoped ho had put the position clearly at the Imperial Conference Ho thought Lord Ampthill somewhat pessimistic in thinking that the conversations of the Imperial Conference on the subject would have no result; He testified to the goodwill of the Union Ministers, hut was afraid the goodwill was not universal in South Africa. There was a ,good deal of prejudice beyond trade competition. Ho deprecated had treatment of educated Indians! The opinion in India was growingly against emigration.