Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-05
BY HENRY w. BUM.

T@HE following is brief summary
Of the most important news Of
the world for the seven days
ended January 4:
THE BRITISH EMPIRE.-On
December, 81, at Lahore, the Indian Ma
tional Congress passed, only 6 OF the
1000 delegates dissenting, a resolution
demanding the immediate concession by
Great Britain to India of complete in
dependence and vesting the executive
committee of the congress numbering
about 5000 with authority Ito launch"
Il use the language Of the Associated
Press dispatch), whenever it thinks the
time ripe, a program of civil disobedi-
ence, including non-payment Of taxes
and similar resistance to British rule. !"
Further, it call on Nationalist members
Of the Central and Provincial Legis-
latures to resign, and proclaims a boy
colt Of those bodies. And 1t states that
mo good purpose could be served" by
Indian participation in the proposed
round-table conference in London to
discuss constitutional reforms for India.
Though the situation created by the
Indian Nationalist Is serious enough.
obviously it is not as serious as some
alarmists have given out The pro-
gram of civil disobedience Is not ordered
into effect. but only threatened, and 1t
is to be observed that the Nationalist
represent only a part Of Indian Senti-
| ment; how large part 1t remains to
see. The resolution does not declare
the connection with Great Britain sew
cred does not call for establishment Of
a parallel government.
The same day the Indian National
Liberal Federation, meeting at Madras,
resolved that the true rallying cry for
uniting all interests of India was do
minion status, not as a distant goal or
ideal, but ito be achieved within the
shortest possible time" Believing that
the British Labor government and Vice.
roy Lord Irwin are earnestly seeking an
acceptable solution to the constitutional
problem. we should be guilty of utter
shortsightednesS and lack of statesman
ship II we failed to seize this oppor-
tunity."
AS on the one hand we should not
be too much alarmed by the Nationalist
moves, so on the other the compare
tive moderation of the Liberals should
not be allowed to arouse false hopes.
Apparently the Liberals are for forcing
matters more rapidly than Britain will
allow or than would be for the best
interests of India.
The military forces in India COM
prise IS, 900 British and 10000 Indian
| troops, most of them on the northwest
|
| frontier.
It may scarcely be doubted that the
40 Nationalist members of the Central
Legislature at Delhi will resign in
obedience to the Lahore decree, but a
good deal OF doubt is felt as to similar
compliance by Nationalist members of
the sundry provincial legislatures.
The population of India is about 800
900, 900. The British authorities are
apt to figure that about 10000 900 of
these may be considered unsusceptible
to the Nationalist propaganda; includ-
ing the 10000, 900 Mohammedans, the
100000 900 "untouchables," the 100000
600 inhabitants of the states ruled by
Indian princes, and the 100000 Sikhs
OF the remaining l50,000,000 or so only
about per cent are literate. But let
us assume q very large asSumption)
them all, illiterate. as well as literate to
be interested in the issues, to obey the
orders either of the Nationalist or OF
the Liberal Hindu leaders. How many
then, are Nationalist? How many
Liberals?
There seems to be little doubt that
the proposed round-table conference, to
include representatives Of Great Brit
ain, representatives OF British India
and representatives OF the states ruled
by Indian princes, will be held in Lon
don within the next few months, even
though the representation from British
India should not include Hindu Ma
tionalists
The very important report of the
Simon commission will be submitted to
the Westminster Parliament shortly
after its reconvening late in January.
The Prince of Wales left England on
January for o long hunting trip In
Africa. It will be recalled how, while
engaged IN such trip about Q year