The sun., 1918-07-24
A New Government for India

To the British Parliament there Is
soon to be submitted q plan, scarcely
yet complete in all Its details, for a
limited home rule In India. The
sponsors for this new scheme of gov
eminent are the Vlceroy and Cover
nor-General Of Indln, Baron CHELMs-
FORD, and the Secretary for India,
EDWIN s. MoNTAGU. The Secretary,
who from his long familiarity with
Indian affairs Is we'll fitted for the
task, is chiefly responsible for the plan
He has spent months In travel and
study in India and in consultation
with native rulers, and the sugges-
tons which he makes are largely the
result of these experiences.
In the present war India has shown
in marked degree her loyalty to the
British Government and to the allied
cause. She waS early made the CEN
ire Of most active German propa-
gnnda, which has been carried on by
Germans who crossed into northern
India from Persia and by renegade
Mohammedans who were in German
pay. In this way the Germans sue
ceeded in causing sporadic lcTolts
among the native troops In some Of
the garrison towns and In stirring up
unrest among the Mohnmmedan
tribesmen along the northwestern
frontier.
The revolts in the garrison towns
were quickly suppressed The un-
rest on the northern border has been
principally troublesome because it ne
cessitnted the presence of British
troops to protect the natives of the
northern plains from the hlllsmen.
The great purpose Of the German
propaganda, which was to arouse the
Afghans against the British, has been
n complete failure. The Amir OF Az
ghanistan early in the war announced
his loyalty to England, and be re-
affirmed his allegiance to the allied
cause when Germany began making
her advance into southern Russia and
Persia.
All the official communications from
India disprove the reports Of native
unrest and discomfort that have been
circulated by the so-called Indian
revolutiOnists in Europe and America.
The United States soon after the be-
ginning Of the war became centre
for this revolutionary propaganda.
An investigation by the Government,
however. proved that the leaders OF
this movement were actually working
In the interest Of Germany. The trail
led even to n question Of the loyalty
OF the Hindu poet RABINDRANATH
TAGoRE, who had made tour
OF this country. The killing Of two
leaders OF the movement at the time
OF their trial In San Francisco put
an end to any further open activity
OF these self-declared revolutlonists
in this country. The patent fact de-
veloped was that these people repre-
sented no organized element Of dis
content in India and that their state
ment that they were backed by mill
ions of Indians suffering from the op-
preston Of misrule and injustice" was
pure fiction.
The very nature Of the Indian pop
ulation, Its many racial and religious
divisions Its ignorance, its adher-
ence to century old customs and its
belief in caste distinctions all make q
great national organization impossi-
BILE. 1t Is these same reasons that
have caused the difficulties of rule
not only by the native princes but
the British Indian Government The
explanation offered for the introduc-
ton Of the new plan Of government
Is that the declarations OF both Brit
ish and American statesmen concern
ing the llberallzing of the aims Of
the Allies have given new force and
vitality to the growing demands
among the progressive section of the
Indian people for elf-governmept."
According to the proposed plan ne