The New York herald., 1920-12-27
INDIA NOW FACES
GRAYEST CRISIS
Deep and Widespread Unrest
Due to High Cost OF
Living.
AMRITSAR NOT FORGOT
Much Depends on Act Giving
Natives Larger Share in
Government.

LONDON. Dec 26.-India to-day is
faced with what is generally character
lied as one Of the gravest crises IN It's
history. owing to the deep and WIDE
spread unrest which has developed since
the end of the war While this discon-
tent is the product of numerous causes
in the main it is the result OF the nigh
cost Of living and the consequent hard
times for the population.
The unrest has recently manifested
itself in various and serious ways.
There have been many great strikes IN
the large industrial centres. in some
cases accompanied by rioting and blood
shed. Organized u-Government boy
colts have been instituted. Moreover, eA-
tremists have been preaching reVluuoh-
airy ideas, with the result that as an
nounced recently In the House or Com
mons by Mr.. Montagu, Secretary ol
State for India, there have been several
prosecutions and convictions under the
seditious meetings act.
There has been much talk III the
western world OF activities by Bolshevist
propaganda agents in India. competent
observers state, however, that 1t Is
doubtful whether the efforts of the Boil
shevists to stir up trouble have met
with much success. In this connection
1t is pointed out that the printed propa-
ganda upon which the Bolshevists depend
so much is of little value in India. where
the vast bulk of the population cannot
read Thus the Bolshevist ideals must
be spread by word of mouth. consid-
cradle task in a country the size OF IN
dia That the Muscovites have been busy
in India. however, there is no dispute.
The main causes of the unrest may
be epitomiZed thus:
The high cost of living. prices in some
cases having advanced 1000 per cent
while incomes, especially of the brain
workers have Increased only a small
fraction of this
The continuance of the war time re-
strictions on the conduct of the popu-
lace, whereas the Government had m
dicated that these would be removed
within six months of the termination Of
the war.
The desire on the part~of large
Sc ection of the educated classes for
greater hand in the Government than
mas hitherto been accorded to natives.
The allegation that the Government
has failed to keep its war time promises
Tor betterment of general conditions or
living and employment, it being charged
that these promises We're heidi out
rnerely to gain support for carrying on
the war
The feeling of @isquietude and opposi-
tion 10 the Government has been given
great impetus by the massacre Of
Amritzar," as the Indian describe the
sensational events OF April, 1919. when
Gen. Dyer ordered his troops TO fire on
a vast concourse Of people. with the re-
suit that great numbers were killed ana
wounded This feeling has been in
creased by the apparent Endorsement II
England of this policy by some legisia-
tors in the debates OF Parliament and
the subscription 10 a testimonial to Ger.
Dyer got up By n London newspaper,
which amounted to 10000.
To Gen. Dyer's claim that he fired OF
a nenacing mob in the heliet that lie
was preventing 4 seditious outbreak.
tic Indian replies that the Amrtzar
crowd was peaceabic and intended not
the slightest harm. This incident and
its sequel have been made known
through the length and breadth of the
land and undoubtedly have done more
to embitter the population OF India than
ANYTHING in recent years.
The cost OF living has hit the average
Indian exceedingly hard. since his main
interest in life centres in his food, his
business Journeys, his periodical pill
grimages to various parts of the coun
try, and in the observance of his re-
ligious rites. His place of abode and
its furnishings trouble him little or not
at all He is now unable to buy the
food to which he has been accustomed,
simple as his wants are. Likewise. he
can no longer make his Journeys. de-
pending on his friends for food and
lodging because. forsootn. his friends
cannot afford TO entertain him. To the