Evening star., 1928-02-19

~
to become involved with
complication which is being blandiy lg-
nored by every one concerned.
The mad policy of attempting to grait
Western political ideals and systems
upon an ancient and conservative ORR
entail people. which had its inception IN
the weakness OF a viceroy. the almost
reasonable folly of a secretary Of state
and the urgent pressure of an American
Senator, who took up the question o.
Indian self-government from the remote
depths of Idaho in 1917. cannot fail &c
intensity and probably III bring 10
head the vexatious problem of the ma
tive states.
India has more than 700 states. Morc
than 300 of them are major political
| entities, having direct treaty relation
sith the British government, with auto
cratic rulers who rate gun salutes. They
cover one-third of the vast area OF I!ldia
and have an aggregate population Of
| about 100000.
| Princes Are Anomalies.
| Even Abyssinia. the remote and fero-
ciously independent Kingdom Of Pres;er
/ John. occasionally is disquieted bv the
pressure of the outside world. but the
! princes of India reign amid the undis-
|
/ century, protected By the British polio;
/ Of non interference They are far moro
! secure upon their thrones than they
! would be had time and the world stood
| still for six centuries
! The British policy. with its Joshua
! like gesture. has preserved all the an
cient prerequisites Of the states and al
! the same time has kept peace among
| them. preventing the petty wars which
in the ancient days consumed the powe!
and wealth Of the principalities.
| Strange anomalies these Indian princes
are. stranger in some respects than
their anachron!stic states. They sand
upon the firmly established system OF
caste. which has its roots deep IN the
religious belief 0. the people. They are
rulers not only by inheritance but by
the definite virtues Of their fathers and
bv their own piety in previous exist
ences Their right 10 rule is not only
divine. but personal, their present state
being the divine reward OF their virtues
/ in some humber incarnation.
With the whole strength OF the Brit
ist empire protecting them physically
though unobt-usively and their right Il
the throne firmly implanted in the ye-y
souls OF their subjects and themselves
! these princes have firm foundation II
deed in the life OF India.
Personally they vary as all men vary
but because OF their prominence thei!
variations are the more pronounced
Some are pure barbarians. rejoicinf
still. like children. in the ulecnan!csl
toys Of the Western world
Some play polo for relaxation; sonle
: fight elephants against tigers AL
maintain armies. rule tyrann:callF a-C
szns.s s,,% H1 n
Their courts are riddled with graft aid
/ intrigue.
| I. is TO this medieval setting that an
/ Indian prince returns from an inter!ude
/ at Oxford or Cambridge. and however
; strong NAV be the influence o. his
Western education az first. II IS small
wonder that he yields eventually and
[ lives his life as ne finds 1t.
Watch Demago
| Nothing in all their existence tends Il
| make them sympathetic toward the
nat!ve politician OF British India TIE
latter is likely 10 be a man o. Low
caste. whose very nature IS 10 crinse L
the presence os nobility.
And the princes. already rss;ive De-
cause Of inner conflict between West
sry1 education and Eastern environment
ard because 0. the encroacf,rleC'S O:
the Indian government, are no' going q
welcome the prospect o. extending ne
power Of these demagogueS.
/ Already there Is room fo- doubt from:
| a legal viewpoint as 20 the identity Q!
| the ether party TO the treaties by wtlic!,
+! the Indian states exist. Some o. these
documents were signed originally By tie
East India Co: others by individual.
/ British governors or generals AL were
/ taken over by the British government.
! bur whether responsibility therefor
rests with the crown. Parliament; OF cse
government OF India IS question.
Just where ii Nj! rent, II the pre-
posed reforms become effective TEX;
year, IS still another question. :or. as
sum!ag that the treaties are with the
government ot India. might no, t2,a;
government be regarded as superseded
entirely b. the new Soverluasnts
To iilSlrs friction among the high
/ caste RsjpusS. SikfS and Manra:sSS
who are rulers Of states and the re
form" government Of British India. the
latter political division already has az,
| economic Stranslehold upon the states
ignorant as native politicians are ot
/ the principles q. economies. they are
acute enough 10 perceive the sNa,iEica,
advantage OF their economic situation
/ and a, = safe personal distance may e,
! trusted 10 utilize It.
! Emigration Problem.
! The states have eSsn careless IL
/ prince!y fashion about economic s6-
! lu>tmcrtS cf theiy relations with Brit
/ sSh India, and, hav.nS confidence ~
.he good faith of the British. while The
after have leGt local problems ~ i<Na,
administrators
| Rulers os the states always have
/ found the adjustment between revenues
and expenditures somewhat eAfA:aS
/ and the ancient remedy ~ wri,ssl,S
! mere taxes from their subjects has es.
/ come not only si.re aorn, b0. s,tlle. As
II nov becomes \ factor III ,.,e s,arrs.lS
! kEo~th ~ emigration from The states -
/ British India
! lh'S emigration makes !. even n>sy
/ imperative IL Increase the states rsyv>-
| hoc Ill order that II may lNay SALARIES
"N4ch VIII make graft uyEerc$>a:y a0>;
| Ill order 10 develop Interi,a. reS,>s.yvsS
which will sl,e nsel,etN>S Il tas, states
subjects comparable w:fH that IL b.
salnc6 III British india
II Is the progrsS>syr, insels.sent
na'iVe prince now, rather than tire eag~
. eaf'an who is demanding n,crs u,<s,cy
ies ms state and Is cAaA0S NJ ;Ay
Grams made upon his TREASURY BY
. british India
tSr capita ta<atstsn III E:lti>A in<iIa
and Ill the states Is approximately TIE
same, though the Sue}ex;S nj ens NATIVE
taletS III senersl ae~' sNNNtey &NaN sl.t~<
ot hytss&h india III addition, ts,Fws. are
general government leN.SS. which ts.e
native princc new, rather shan stse bar
tnsu lHlF India was ~ all lnseu:$
ard purposes Srwe .saas eI,,ntyy, l.,
taat year MAR expenditures tssuty<>>a ALI
increase IN revenue. which Mas >,lpp,.S<.
from lmNGt duties The Nsx,<S$4sS MAS
recognized, ana Tire dates were EessA
Without compliant The politicians ~
the legislative assembly, however cet
onls have failed IL ss<sss,s these sasey-