Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-02-05
Protest Against Arrest of
Agitators During Visit
of Prince of Wales.
ASSERT LAW Is USED
FOR POLITICAL PURPOSE
Charge That Imprisonment of
Hundreds Constitutes Mem
ace 10 Public Safety.
Inv Nsslcla,ed rress-l

CALCUTTA. Feb. 4.-The action of
the Indian government in arresting
rau! hundreds OF agitators in the
non-co- operative movement and
others known as Congress or Eha!i-
fat volunteers in consequence of the
riots and other Incidents which at
tended the visit OF the Prince OF
Wales 10 India. has evoked several
formal protests.
The governments attitude is dc
nounced in Il protest signed 10y 100
lawyers at Madras az IA campaign of
repression and abuse of tho ordinary
provisions OF the law for political
purposes. involving unwarranted ana
unconstitutional Interference with
the liberty of citizonS"
Menace Ia safety.
We consider" the lawyers assert
ed, that the wholesale and unjusti-
talic arrests and .imprisonmcnts Of
public spirited citizens for political
activities constitute Il grave menace
10 public safety. and express our iirm
conviction that such measures In
auSur2tcd in a time OF law and or
der are really subyersive to law and
ORDER
Seven leading members OF the Mod
cratic party in Calcutta have issued
manifesto deplorlnR the initiation
OF = reprcss.ve policy Simultaneous
with the visit OF the Prince Of Wales.
They declare that coercion is no rem
edy for political unrest. and that "a
policy of repression VIII defeat it's
own end and lead IL serious results.
Lord Reading the Niccroy. how
ever. contends that the Government
policy is not one OF repression De-
Tending the policy in replying to AN
address presented by the Bengal
Hahajan Sahha. hc declared that no
greater fallacy exists than To suggest
that the government means only To
govern by resort To force"
Must Maintain Law.
lie pointed out that the EovCrnm cnt
was bound To maintain law aud or
der and protect law u bidins citizens
and that il became necessary for The
government to exercise power and
authority 10 combat intimidation and
coercion brought Ia bear upon per
sons to force them to take action In
which they did not believe.
The Ntceroy charged that the ar
rests in Calcutta were in most IN
stances forced upon The government.
lie asserted that the political lead
crs had detlod the iaw for the purpose
OF being arrested and Obtaining SYM
pathy
Then. lie said demonstrations are
made TO force IN. government to
make more arrests.
Would Increase Tension.
That hc said was the situation dis
pass iouutcly stated. Although he
would hc sorry 10 say one word that
would increase the state Of tension
already existing, the Niccroy said
that the policy az the so"crnmcnt in
prevcntin. Intimidation and unlawful
oppression, and Of enforcing due re-
gard for law. must persist
The N!ceroy reiterated statements
he had previously made that there is
no intention by the Indian govern
mcDt to interfere with opposition to
the government "r win ,n- express
sion Of strong feelings against IT,
proviied that tho !asv is observed
The sovernmclt hsS n>,vcr wished
TO shut out discussion" lie asserted
quite the opposite, have on many
occa slons since arrived indicated
that my government wished 10 know
sDd remedy Legitimate grievances
Nothing mat has happened has
changed this policy"