The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-01-01
PR|NCEFEASTS
AS |ND|ANSD DIE
|NFAM|NE ZONE
Nationalist Representative Fig
ures Cost Of Visit Would Feed
7,143,OOO for Year.

to promote self-govern-
ment (Swaraj) in India, is q con-
sentative estimate Of the cost Of
the Prince Of Wales on
his present visit to India. Mr.. Chose
bases his estimates on official re-
ports received here Of the appropria-
tions made by the government Of
India, the various provincial and
governments and the ma
tive states.
While the Prince is being Toasted
and entertained with gorgeous dur
bars famines are raging in five
great districts in India, and reports
show thousands Of persons dying
each day. The cost Of the Princes
entertainment, Mr.. Chose declares,
would sustain approximately 7,l43,-
900 natives for q year. Instead OF
that, he points out, all the appro-
priations for entertainment have
been added to the various budgets
and will be levied as an additional
tax for next year.
Readings Appeal.
In an address delivered to the
Chamber Of Princes. meeting In Delni
on November Z, Earl Reading, viceroy
of India, in asking their whole
hearted cooperation in welcoming the
Prince of Wales to India the prince
arrived In Bombay on November I'D.
announced as a special inducement
for their loyalty:
For the future, except at installa.
lions and investitures where local
custom will continue to be followed,
his imperial ma esty has been pleased
to dispense with the presentation OF
naxars at ceremonial visits or recep-
tons, either to himself or any Of the
members of his family, or to any OF
his officers to whom II hitherto has
been customary to present them"
"Nazars" are gifts Of tribute which
princes of India have virtually been
compelled to give to members Of
British royalty and British officials
visiting their states. Some Of the
most precious Jewels in Europe and
America have found their way from
India through that custom. Accord
ing To some unofficial British resi-
dents Of India. the customs of "naxar"
was virtually a polite form Of robbery,
for princes who showed q lack Of gen.
erosity lost prestige in the eyes Of
the British Raj, and the history Of the
INSIDE" native states shows more
than one prince who has lost his
throne because Of foolishly failing to
give graciously some priceless jewe,.
work of art coveted by q member of
the British royal family or some high
British official.
$5O,OOO,00 for Entertaining.
Evidently, according to the Amer.
lean commission to promote self
government (SwaraD In India. the
not to apply until after the visit of
the Prince Of Wales.
1.-THE government Of India, II IL
said" reports the Modern Review, q
British Indian publication, copies Of
which have just been received by
Mr.. Chose, will spend only twenty
lakhs (of rupees). But when all the
separate amounts spent by the gov
eminent of India. the provincial
governments, municipalities and the
Indian states to be visited by the
Prince are added up, these can be no
doubt that it will be found that the
reputation of British ruled India for
loyalty and lavish waste are quite
safe"
A lakh is one hundred thousand,
and the present value Of the rupee Is
rs cents. American money. None Of
the cities the prince has visited
or Is scheduled to visit has
or $37, 500, and the larger cities have
voted from 100000 to 5000, 900.
Fabulous sums have been appro-
priated by the native states" Mr..
Chose said yesterday: For instance.
the government Of the Nizam Of
Hyderabad voted eight lakhs, or $780,
900 for the reception, which does
not cover the rich presents or
'nazars' that must be given to the
prince and to all the members of his
encourage. The Gaekwar Of Baroda,
appropriated seventy.five lakhs, or
s1,s75.000, for entertainment feasts,
and receptions. Princes whose states
were not included in the itinerary Of
the prince were invited-it might
more truthfully be said, commanded
to meet the prince at the courts Of
the leading native rulers, and all
pected from them. As there are 700
princes and chiefs in India It will
readily be seen what an enormous
sum the combined tributes represent
who pays the bill? The unhappy
ryot. or peasant. Although India Is
crushed with debt. although the pres
ent taxes and cost Of living ar" 20
great that 60 per cent of the people
can afford only one meal q day. and
that only handful of rice or millet,
the British government has levied
this additional tax of $4,000 900 on
the people for receptions and fes.
tivities.
The Masses Protest.
"How the people-the masses
have felt about this heartless waste
Of money Is shown by resolutions
adopted by the women Of Bombay In
a mass meeting held November 10,
the day before the princes arrival.
They protested against the visit. and
urged the people to boycott all re-
ceptions on the ground that the car
rying out Of them will involve the
criminal waste of lakhs or rupees
which could well have been fruit
fully spent in alleviating the acute
distress Of thousands Of our country
men in Malabar and in Khulna and
other famine-afflictcd parts of the