UNREST IN INDIA.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1921, Page 8

UNREST IN INDIA.

STRAIGHT TALK BY VICEROY. AGITATORS INJURING CAUSE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn —CopyrightDel hi, Dec. 23. Lord Reading firmly answered the Reputation of prominent Indians, who requested him to abandon the action taken by the Government against the extremists. He pointed out that to do so, without the assurance of the extremists that they would cease unlawful and dangerous activities, would be utterly onesided and indefensible, besides paralysing the Government’s power to maintain order. As the deputation was not in a position to giva such an assurance he refused to consider either ceasing arrests and prosecutions, or a round-table conference. All shades of opinion had emphasised that the only way for India to obtain Home Rule was by the British Parliament amending the Government of India Act, therefore the important test was that a proper impression should be made on the British Parliament and British peoples, and he warned his hearers that every man affronting the Prince by demonstration, boycott, or hartal was doing incalculable injury to India and her future,, for the British would consider an insult to the Prince as an insult to themselves. He could hold out no hope it would stop until the extremists stopped their lawlessness. Nevertheless, it was considered in many quarters that a round-table conference was impending, though Gandhi, as usual, says it will be useless unless the Government first granted the demands of the extremists.

It appears that mass or individual civil disobedience will start soon, which means the disobedience of all laws and refusal to pay taxes. The extremist conference starts shortly at Ahmedabad. It is rumored it will be impossible for a republic to be declared.