New-York tribune., 1920-10-24
British Indian
Problem Still
Looks On1in0us
Government Report Shows
Marked Growth of Dis
quieting Conditions as
Aftermath Of the War
Future a Gamble in Rain
Famine Affects Temper of
People; Economic Aspect
Undergoing an Upheaval
Fror, a Special Correspondent

AO\DCN, OCt. o. ne BRUSH gov
ernment has Just issued an off ical doc
nment which sets departure from the
accepted theory that all official publ
cations must be dry and unintcresting.
True, the title might be made decidedly
more attractive, to be in keeping with
the contents. It is Statement Exhibit
ing the Moral and Material Progress
end Condition of India During the
Year 1919" But once that forbidding
barrier is passed, the reader finds him
self with 2S0-page book written in a
style which savors not little Of the
journalistic nor less of good his
torian.
The primary impression which the
report leaves is that Of the tremendous
complexity of the Indian problem.
Events and circumstances which In
themselves seem TO admit only of one
logical sequence are shown to be almost
hopelessly entangled with thousand
and one considerations Of religion,
caste, prestige. intrigue and what not.
The dispassionate tone OF the report
aids the reader. Such document must
in a certain sense be propaganda, but
here there is the assurance that at
least whatever opinions are expressed
the facts are given.
Forces Underlying Boycott
Now, when the menace of combined
Hindu and Mussulman boycott Of
British rule and goods is giving oc-
casion for serious consideration in
London official circles, it is interesting
20 be afforded glimpse of the under
lying forces debating it.
"The year 1919" says the report,
"opened full of promise for India.
But as the year proceeded, the picture
changed. The disastrous monsoon Of
1918 began to produce its full effects
in continued scarcity and steadily ris-
ing prices. The still unsatis;ed poll
tical aspirations of the educated
hardships borne by the poor, produced
an atmosphere dangerous to the pub
lie peace. A spark ignited the train,
and the result was the tragic explosion
Of March and April. The North
west frontier suddenly became a dan
ger zone. Following upon the Afghan
war there came a disturbed
border, which Up to the moment of
writing has not resumed is normal
condition, and the nearer approach 70
lndia's frontier Of the chaos which
Bolshevism has brought to Central
Asia"
The process which began in 1919 in
India was the economic readjustment
which evepy country has felt to a
greater OF less degree. Crops had
been poor. the 1918 monsoon had
failed 60 produce the necessary amount
Of raia prices werc high; wages had
not kept pace Y III them
Trouble started early in the year
over the question Of Indian settlers
in South Afrca, which did not want
them. Comp cations in foreign affairs
began with the murder o. the Amir
Hablbul.ak. Who a. ruler of Afghanis-
tan had been, i not friendly, at least
neutral His succession was disputed
and the new An..r, in order TO divert
attention from the lroubled internal
affairs vi h.s kingdom, began TO raid
the KhyDor frontier.
As soon as hostilties broke out"
says the report, 1T became apparent
tnac ;.i.plt.n,s, .cless and high cx-
ploslves were reyolutionizing frontier
warfare IN a manner most dlsconcert-
ing 10 the Afghan troops"
War left Border in Terment
The WAY could have bat one con-
cluslon. but It's effects left the border
IN decided fesment. A series of Dills
known as the "Kowatt bills,' aimed at
breaking vp intrigue against the gov
ernnent, became the object of much
suspicion or the part Of the native
popuiatlon. NJ k. Gandhl, religious
leader Of acknowledged asceticism." an
nounced tha, no would institute a
policy Of passive resistance to the
measuros lie is referred to in tho
official report as "a Tolstoyan Of high
ideals and complete selflessness"
The inevitable opened. The atmo-
sphere grew tense, police interfered IN
native quarrel ono day-and the Pun
1ab and Bombay darcd Up. Europeans
were murdered, there were rcprisals,
and finally the famous Amritsar occur
renee, when 379 natives who were at
tending public meeting were killed by
force under General Dyer. Martial
law had to be declared and for time
there virtually was open warfare be-
tween the British and the natives. But
gradually the country Quoted; courts
OF invest cation were apponted the
proclamation of the Kings assent to
the reform bill, which paved tho way
for constitutional government, was
given out. The year closed with prepa-
rations for putting the reforms into
effect, but with educated Indians I'M
patient at what they considered un-
necessary delay.
There Is sentence in the report
which really epitomizes India's eco
nomic situations: ut WAS once re-
marked that all Indian finance finally
resolves itself into a gamble in rain"
With famine conditions prevailing in
considerable part of India in 1919;
with silver performing strange and un-
expected gymnastics in the world mar
ket; with foreign exchanges fuctuating
violently from day to day, it is plainly
TO be seen that the task Of administer
Ing India's finances during 1919 was no
simple one.
Economic Change in Progress
The fact is" the report says, "the
economic condition of India, In com
mon with that of the rest OF the civil
Ized world. Is undergoing profound
change. TO which all employers Of
labor, government included must now
adapt themselves" And India also
had its housing problem. its problem
OF the need for more efficient means Of
communication and transit; its unem-
ployment menace-in fact. about the
only national i'll from which other
countries suffered during the first
postwar year, and which India es-
capped, seemed to be that of demobiliaa-
tion.
Here and there throughout tho re-
port are illusions, explanations, foot
notes. which throw flashes OF light on
the real India; which show almost in
superable barriers in the way of an
early success OF self government:
I'm southern India there exist i'm
mcnse numbers of so-calied 'untouch-