The Birmingham age-herald., 1917-04-22
INDIA IS ABSOLUTELY LOYAL ID ENGLAND
 SAYS NATIVE RULER
Prince Mararajah Denies That Country Is Selfish and Only Pretends Love
 of Great Empire


 are loyal to the King Emperor solely because of self-interest, and that they are ready to break away from the Brit
 sh government at any moment when they believe they can enlarge their own powers. are wicked and malicious false hooos' for native India is unqualifiedly loyal to the core,'' says his highness, the Maharajah of Bikaner, one of the greatest of the ruling princes of India. The Maharajah spoke feelingly on the subject to a correspondent of the Asso- ciated Press and at one time during the conversation learned forward and with emotion said:
 T love the King Emperor as the repre- sentative of sovereign power and I love him as 8 man. There Is no sacrifice which he might ask of me that I would not make. My resources, my life and the lives of the men of Bikaner belong to him. I myself am ruler, the de- scendant of sovereigns who have held this land for centuries. We are proud race, but I would gladly kneel to lift the shoes of his majesty were he but to command, though I would do that for no one else in the wide world. That is how feel personally toward the throne, and speak with the authority arising from close associations with my brother rulers when I tell you that they, too, love their King Emperor and will follow where he leads, through thick and thin"
 Highly cultured, his education embrac- ing the learning both of the east and of the west, the Maharajah is credited with being one of the most progressive and able rulers of the Indian empire. It is st tQH nat foT al he is now only 36 years of age, his views have been sought on delicate questions not only by other princes, but by the government of India. During the recent conference of princes in Delhi he played a leading part, and at the conclusion was accorded the distinction of a vote of thanks for his services by the other rulers.
 At the outbreak of the European war he was the first of the ruling princes to offer the services of himself and his troops, and to place the entire resources of his state at the disposal of King George his message being sent even be- fore Great Britain had formally entered the conflict.
 Shortly after Great Britain took up arms the Maharajah sailed for France and was appointed to the headquarters staff of the Meerut division of the In- dian expeditionary force and fought through the most critical stages of those early days. Meanwhile other princes of India also were fighting personally in various fields of operation.
 After few months the Maharajah of Bikaner was made an aide de camp on the staff of field marshal. Sir John French, and was named officially by the commander-in-chief for gallant conduct in the field. The Maharajah returned to India in February, 1915, owing to the fatal Illness of his daughter and reached Egypt on his way home just in time to place himself at the head of his famous regiment. the Bikaner Camel corps, which was stationed there, and help repel the Turkish invasion. Again he was men tioned for balantrya in dispatches from the commander chief, Sir John Max well.
 Once since the beginning of the war the Maharajah has been singled out for assassination by a small party of sedi- tionists in British India who felt, as was brought out at the Benares conspiracy trial that he was a menace to their plans for causing an anti-British upris- ing. The plot was discovered quickly and promptly quashed.
 During his talk with the correspondent the Maharajah referred in glowing terms to the other rulers who have given their personal service during the war; and to the great contributions of money and
  dian states.
 When the war broke out" he said, .there was rush among the ruling princes of India to assure the King EIn- peror of their loyalty and to tender all the resources at their command. Those who charge us with acting selfishly seem to ignore, or overlook. the fact that these offers were made during the dark days when the Germans were sweeping every thing before them. It was not outside the range of possibility that the central allies might accomplish their object of overruning Europe. But did this deter India from standing by the flag? "A little later India was virtually denuded of British. troops which were needed to stem the onward rush of the Germans The existence of the Indian empire depended on the loyalty of princes and people. It was the opportunity of generations for a successful uprising, had such revolt been in the minds of the people of India, for there was nothing to prevent it. But British India, and the ruling princes and the people of na- tive India stood by their King Emperor throughout that trying period. Was that selfish loyalty, or was it the loyalty born of real devotion to the throne? 'T do not mean to say, of course, that Indian rulers are different from any other men in that they are never actuated by selfish motives, but our selfishness does not touch our devotion to the King-Enl- peror. We are absolute loyalists, and our people are loyalists with us.'' Only few hours previous to this con versation the correspondent had driven through the city with the Maharajah. On the way the carriage passed a hum ble dwelling which was gaily decorated, the most striking part of the display be- ling an arch over the door which bore l the words, God Save the King The attention of the Maharajah was called l to this
 That house undoubtedly is decorated for a wedding" he had said, adding with laugh: "Its a striking example of the disloyalty of the people of BilSaner to their King Emperor, isn't it?" Tt would be foolish to claim that the ruling princes never have had their diff l ferences with representatives of the gov ernment of India" he said finally. There have been times when We have felt the sting of pin bricks inflicted by some of l ficial. love the King Emperor but, 1 frankly, there have been times when have not loved the acts of some of his servants. There has been a disposition on the part of some to belittle the im- portance of the ruling princes and to trespass on their dignity. thinking there by to enhance the importance of the trespasser, and forgetting that the greater the rulers of India, the greater the British empire as whole. Naturally. it is not pleasing to ruler, whose ancestors have held the throne in their own right for countless centuries before the British came to India. to be subjected to petty annoyances by some VV1I n r-8K 1ai iaI