The Washington herald., 1908-05-10
NIPPON AND THE CRISIS IN INDIA

would not be Of such overwhelming m
portance. we're it not for the fact that IN
the FIRST place il calls into activity the
provisions Of the unpopular treaty De
tween Japan and England, and secondly,
that X comes at a moment when native
discomfort is not only rife, but acute
throughout the length and breadth Of
Hndustan Indeed, for all that is known,
there may be some connection and un-
derstanding between the maicontents in
India and the Ameer. Were Afghanistan
alone 10 be considered in the matter. the
affair would be much more simple. True
another invasion OF Afghanistan. and an
other military occupation OF the eoun-
try, would be a heavy drain-on the finan-
ces Of the empire, and would undoubtedly
entail as heavy a cost Of life and treas
ure as the several previous wars with
Afghanistan.
Mnch Discomfort In India.
But the serious feature is the correlation
OF the Ameer's action with the disturb
ances in various parts Of India. The
discomfort in India has many causes, and
lit has been undoubtedly increased of late
tby The treatment whi-h not only Indian
citizens, but retired veteran native sol
diers OF the Indian army have received
in the British colonies where legislation
destined TO exclude Asiatic immigration
I is in force.
Again I quote Lord Curzon. an author
+ ity on India, If ever there has been one.
+ In discussing the treatment of the In
dams in South Africa during a debate in
the House Of Lords in February last, ne
pointed out that English teachings had
inspired the Indian with the belief that
/ he was possessed of the full Tighes Of
citizenship In the British empire which
he had come TO regard as a birthTight;
and then he asked what Parliament
thought would be the impression created
among the 100000. 600 lieges of King Ed
ward In India. when they learned that
1 these rights were denied IN Canada,
throughout South Africa, and in Aus
traiia. where they were either excluded
altogether as undesirable aliens. or else
subjected 10 police regulations Of a most
humlliating order, and such as are in
India reserved for criminals.
Lord Curzon was especially vehement IN
his denunciation Of the treatment in this
connection which had been undergone by
a number of hOnOrably discharged ma
tive soldiers, who had served the British
Crown with distinction, not only in India
Itself, but also in Egypt and elsewhere,
whose breasts were covered with medals
and yet who received no more cOnsidera-
tion in South Africa than ex-convicts.
Indians Hear of RefusaIs.
OF course. all this has become known
throughout India by means of the utterly
unbridled and unrestricted native press
tent the loyalty OF the native army OF
$50. coo men has been affected thereby.
Fifty years ago the great mutiny took
place, which almost cost England the
possession OF her great Indian depend
lency There are many, entitled to be re-
garded as experts upon the subject OF
conditions in India, who are convinced
that another native insurrection. of an
even still more serious character, is al
hand, and so pronounced has become the
unrest and disafTection among the natives
and so open their hostility toward the
English. that in Lahore. the capital OF
Puniaub, and in other OF the leading
cities of India, the white people have en-
listed in the local volunteers, not as OF.
ncers. but as pTiystes, among them beine
Judges Of the supreme court, university
i
leading bankers, and merchants, all oil
them impeled thereto by a sense of tht
urgent necessity of taking some organic
ed means for the protection of their fam
lilies and homes What a recurrence OF
the misnamed mutiny Of half a century
ago would mean. can best be gathered by
the remembrance OF the fact that tn;
native population of India exceeds 500
000, 900 as compared with a mere handful
less than 2l0000-of Englishmen, WHIT
are likely to be overwhelmed by sheel
force of members.
Think MoEIems Loyal.
True. the British authorities, while ad
hitting the animosity OF the Hindoos
profess to be able to depend upon th,
loyalty of the Moslems. But the latte
constitute only about one-ffth OF tn
population, and moreover, are as likeh
as not to join in any rising, being Of th'
same creed as the Ameer Of Afghanistal
and his people.
In several respects any great insurrec
ton in India to-day would differ from
that Of fifty years ago. Thanks TO Lor'
+ Kitchener, VINO has entirely reorganize,
: the military forces and defenses Of Hin
: dustan. the troops are now so dispose,
and equipped that white regiments cal
} be moved from one spot to another wifi
great rapidity In fact, the immense de
! velopment Of the railroad and telegraph
system throughout King Edwards hug
. Oriental ar4T,fre NAV he said m frof,f