New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-26
CURZON EXPLAINS WHY
INDIA IS AIDING ALLIES
Former Vceroy Says Princes and Natives Alike Revere
British Rule and Are Fighting to Prevent Prus-
sian Conquest of Their Own Land

American audience. For not only have
the leaders Of American opinion shown
a thoughtful and continuous interest in
the phenomenon of British rule in
India, often visiting the country in
order to make a special study of 1t
and making it the subject of speeches
and essays and lectures to the Ameri-
can people on their return to their own
country, but the feature of British rule
which has always specially appealed Ia
them has been the moral basis upon
which they believe it TO be founded.
'In the first place the Indians recog.
nize that this is a quarrel which con
Germs them just as much as II concern!
US, and they know that the military
naval and political aspirations of Ger
many are wholly inconsistent with the
security or development of India a:
contemplated by them.
Prefer British Rule.
"The German idea that a Pan-Islami'
movement could be excited which would
stir up the seventy millions of Ma
hometans in India into an outbreal
against British rule finds no echo in
the breasts of Mahometans in India
They recall, from the long record OF
British history, how sympathetic we
have always shown ourselves to be in
all parts of the world TO Mahometar
feeling. They realize, from the col.
lapse of Turkey since she became the
dupe of Germany, what the exchange
of German for British influence would
mean. They know how, in their own
country, the cohesion and solidarity
and religious freedom of the Mahome-
tan population have been built up and
protected under British rule.
Similarly, the Hindus have not the
slightest desire to see German ideas
of government or administration pre-
vail at Delhi or Simla, for they know
that this would mean goodby forever
to their own political aspirations.
"The second reason for the rallying
of India to our cause has been their
quick and unhesitating recognition OF
the fact that the principles at stake
in the present war are just as essential
and vital to India as they are to our
selves. For instance, the whole basis
of our Indian policy is our fidelity to
treaty obligations and our pledged
word. Every chief in India owes the
continued existence of his state anC
the large measure of political auton'
omy which he enjoys to scrap Of
paper
Believe in Honor.
Tf the German idea of the worth
lessness of written pledges were tC
prevail in India, the entire politica
system which we have guaranteed
would fall to the ground. In the sdm'
way as regards the population
whether Mahometan or Hindu, OF
British India, their confidence in Brit
ish rule depends in the last resort on
the spoken or written guarantee
which have been given TO them. anC
which they are never tired of quoting
"The power of Englishmen in India
has been built up on tho universal
belief in their personal and public
honor, and when an alternative pOliti-
cal idea is offered to the Indians
which starts by tearing 10 pieces
everything to which they have been
led to attach value, it can be easily
understood what small sympathy il
meets with at their hands. VI, re-
over, it should be remembered that a
keen and scrupulous senst of public
honor is inherent in the Indian peo-
pies, is deeply imbedded in their re-
ligious beliefs and traditions. ard has
been characteristic of their chivalry
for hundreds of years.
1.-THE third reason which has ac-
counted for the loyalty of the Indians
at the present crisis is their firm con-
viction that. on the whole. the British