Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-06-16
INDIA'S GREAT NEED.
British Government Relief Enterprise
Must BE Supplemented.

To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Extracts of the reply of Lord George
Hamilton, secretary OF state for India, In
the house Of commons, just published, need
further explanation to be properly under
stood. While, the one hand, his state
ment of the effectiveness of government
measures in saving life among the starving
is true. being borne out by the independent
witness of missionaries and others VINO
have been visiting the famine districts,
there is danger that those unfamiliar with
the conditions prevailing there shouia feei
that the call for help was overdrawn. A
distinction must be made between opera
tons in British territory and those in the
native states. In the British territory tho
famine code is followed and experienced
and self-sacrifcing English officials are
nobly battling with the problem OF saving
life. Under them are a traine1 army or
native officials, under rules and checks; so
that 1t is without question a fact That star
walton in British territory is due, not to in
sufficient expenditure of money or effort by
the government, but to the fact that the
people themselves, for a hundred reasons,
reasonable and unreasonable. do not
promptly make use of their opportunities.
The cholera has made conditions such as
no government could possibly successfully
meet. The people flee in panic from dis
ease that is sweeping off hundreds day.
and. wandering foodleSS. fall victims TO
starvation. On the other hand. 1t mas to
be remembered that government reports or
made up from the statistical reports OF
native officials, who have reasons for mini
MIXING the conditions which might reflect
on their own efficiency in discharging the
duties placed upon them. The sympathetic
visitor among the people sees more distress
than appears in a cold tabulated govern
ment report.
The condition in native states is different
fl ON that in British territory. There are
hundreds of these states, with home rule
under their own princes. Some Of these
princes noble exceptions to the rule. but
the rule is that they care very little for
human life and suffering, so that even with
cry assistance and some pressure from
the government of India famine relief op-
erations are badly managed. The officials
are very corrupt and the terrible suffering
makes little impression on their selfishness.
The greatest mortality from starvation
pure and simple and from causes due to
weakening of body from insufficient food
is therefore in native states
The help that those interested in India
are asking for her Is not. therefore, to help
the government of India, but to help the
suffering people, supplementary to what
the government is nobly doing. 1t is not
food alone that the people need. The ema-
ciated need careful attention. orphaned ana
deserted children need rescue, the naked
need clothing the farmers whose cattle are
dead who have no seed when the rains
shall come nor food to eat while waiting
for the crops to ripen. need help. And both
in British territory and native states, at
relief camps and in the villages, where the
people are struggling as best they can,
there is unlimited scope to relieve the SUI
fering of the infirm, the sick. the skeleton
child, the puny. starved babe. the widow
who has many little mouths to feed. Help
is also needed to keep at their own trades
the petty artisans so they may not become
paupers on public charity. Provision must
also be made for the care and education OF
thousands of orphans and deserted chill
dren, who when the famine is over will
have no place to go to and none to care for
them.
No criticism. just unjust, on Englands
relation to the famine should check Amer
ica's generous attitude to the people Of
India The simple fact is that millions of
our fellow beings are suffering. We can
help relieve them. We but condemn our
selves If we make the failure of others to
do what we think Is their duty an excuse
for refusing compassion and help to a peo-
pie helpless In the grasp of great famine.
JUSTIN E. ABBOTT.