THE INDIAN SITUATION

Taihape Daily Times, 5 June 1919, Page 3

THE INDIAN SITUATION

THE DANGER OF HOLY WAR. LONDON. May 22. Mr. E Montague, Secretary of State for India, speaking in. the House of Commons, said it was now clear that the new Amir of Afghanistan, in a moment of suicidal folly authorised an unprovoked attack. His motives were doubtful. We desired nothing except friendly relations with the neighbouring country, but intended to exact stern and just punishment of the raids and invasion. Internal danger in. India was not, yet past. Fighting had occurred in the Presidency of Bombay, involving one tenth of the area, and one-third of the population. In the Punjab there bad been an outbreak at Delhi. Trouble had occurred in Calcutta also, but to a minor extent. There had been no trouble in the Madras. The trouble was wholly confined to towns. Events showed the unmistakable loyalty, of India as a whole. Altogether, nine Europeans and 400 Indian ]ive s had been lost. Perplexity in the Mohammedan world arising out of Turkey's defeat was one of the causes of Indian unrest. Another arose from fear that the promises of 1917 would not, be carried out. The Rowlett Act was very unpopular, but would not be used except to cope with remarkable revolutionary movements, Sir Montagus ssid he was convinced the House must proceed without delay with '■■-, Bill providing for the alteration of the Indian Government. Cabinet has agreed to the introduction of the Bill at the beginning of June. The keystone of Indian reform would be the transference of power from the bureaucracy to the people This might be gradual in its application, but it must be real.