Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10

IN the opinion Of many who have stud
led the situation Lord Mimic Is going
out 20 India to face the hardest JOB
Il that any viceroy has had for several
generations. Whether or not he
will fall In line with Lord Kitchener
ideas and allow the military commander "
establish practically a separate princlpahty
IN the Indian empire will not be known III
he has been in the saddle for little Whlie-
AS he was a soldier before he was a gov
ernor general. he may have more sympathy
with Lord kitchener's plans than had MS
predecessor. Lord CurZon. who was CIVIL
ian pure and simple. But the situation thdt
has been created by transforming the tu-
multuous TX Of X" 10 the command or
the Indian army Is entertaining, TO the out
slider at least. and shows that the British
government has lost none Of her long
standing dread of Russia even in the days
of the latter's military defeat at the hands
of Japan.
whether or not the English government
has changed it's editor in The Indian office
is not known to the man across the sea.
But the latest official publication bearing
on the Indian situation IS remarkably frank
for a government document and reads very
much as though II had been sent TO press
In a hurry without expurgation by the for
eign office. 1t is not often that "a govern
ment allows It's representatives, IN une or
peace 10 declare verbal war on nominally
friendly power and call in plain language
for warlike preparations. But this is what
Lord Kitchener has been allowed to 90 IN
official print and the document has the
sanction of the sacred blue cover that en-
folds so many OF the momentous utter
anccs Of The British government.
From Lord Kitcheners remarks in the
correspondence Just published 1t might be
thought that war with Russia would be de
clared next week and that there was but
scant time for defensive preparations be
fore repelling boarders. His opinion on the
Indian situation has been given to the
world in the same volume with the dissent
ing opinions of the late vlceroy and the
members OF the Indian council. The situa-
ton is really funny because the serious
feature II there Is ever to be a serious fea-
,ure cannot possibly develop for many
years 10 come. Lord Kitchener is none the
less uslstent. however, in having all prep
aratious made TO meet an invasion from
power that has Just been tousht 20 s'aho-
still.
The Indian council. on the other hand. Is
apparently about as afraid of Lord kitch-
ener as Lord Kitchener is OF Russia. Were
It IN the days OF Warren Hastings one
might think that the plans OF the indian
comma nder-in- chief included preparations
for a grab at the viceregal throne with ul-
innate intent to turn India into an indie
pendent monarchy. However. times change.
and It Is possible that he intends to accom-
plish something of the same ends by mod
ern means One must remember that DICK
Turpin no longer galops by moonlight
Nowadays, II he is In need of spending
money, he either shakes the plum tree or
goes down to the corner of Broad and wall
streets and shears a few lambs. Thus
the plans of the strenuous K. may contem-
plate the establishment of a power in India
tnore real than ever thought of by has
tings or Give. But IL he accomplishes 1t
u must be done in accordance with modern
methods.
The Indian council. which consists of the
Wceroy and FIVE others. beside the COM
mander-in- chief and the present military
member, must think there Is some danger