Norwich bulletin., 1922-02-08
GOvttoAdoptStern
Measures in India
To Suppress the Campaign Of,
Civil observation-disclosures
mined to Suppress Law
lessness.

London, Feb. (By the A. P.)-The
India Office issued an official commund-
cation this evening indicating that it
was the intention Of the. government to
adopt stern measures to suppress the
campaign of civil disobedience in India,
1t adds that no government could dis
cuss the demands contained in the recent
manifesto of MahatIna K. Gandhi, the
Indian nationalist leader.
The civil disobedience as proposed-in In
India must be met with the sternest Of
severity, the communication declares in
refuting certain '.misst dement's made
by Gandhi in his manifesto. asserting
that the demands contained in this man
-ifesto are such that no government could
discuss much less accept them" the
communication says:
The alternatives that now confront
the people of India are such ass sophis-
try can no. longer obscure or disguise.
The issue no longer Is between this or
that programme for political advance.
but between lawlessness, with all its
dangerous consequences on the one hand
and on the other, the maintenance OF
those principles which lie at the root of
all civilized government.
Mass civil dsobedience is fraught
| with such danger to the state that II
| must be met with sternness and sever.
| ity.
The communication emphatically repu-
dates statement of Gandhi to the ef-
feet that the government has embarked
on a policy of lawless repression, ant
also a suggestion that the present cam.
paign of civil disobedience was forced or
| the nonfco-operation party in order tC
secure to the elementary rights of free
association free speech and a. free press
1t adds that the decision to adopt Nivl
1 disobedience was finally accepted Nov
/ ember S, before the recent notification
relating to either the seditious meeting
| act or the criminal law amendment t,
the act to which Gandhi 'unquestionabl,
| refers were issued. On the contrary
asserts that the government was force,
to take these measures because of tn
acts Of professed followers of Gardhi
| Nevertheless the operation of the 4sedi
tiops meetings act had been strictly lin
I ited to few districts in which there wa
| risk of great disturbances to the peace
| The application of the criminal Lax
| amendment act of 1908 was confined t
= associations. a majority of the member
of which "habitsally indnlged in intlmi
dation."
Refutation Is made of the charge tina
the governments recent measures in
VOWED departure from the policy tha
the government should not interfere i
the activities of the non-co-operators s
long as they, remained non-violent j
word and deed. The communication add
that the government will enforce the la
relating to offences against the state .
and when 1t may think fit against an
persons committing breaches.
With reference TO the proposed confer
ences, the communication says tfs
while the government is asked to max
concessions, there is no suggestion ths
any of the illegal, activities of Sthe nor
co-operators, othsr than hartals pickle
-11g and civil disobedience, should ceas
Further. It adds. Gandhi has made
apparent that the proposed round tab
conferences would be called merely
register his decree.