Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-15
By FRANK H. sIMoNDs.

N ARELY has any event of the i'm.
- portance of the present disorder
In India been more difficult tt
n y grasp or to appraise Part OF
the difficulty arises from the
very effective censorship, which botf
suppreSses and minimizes news, but
quite as much of the obscurity flows
from the almost universal absence OF
any impartial and expert opinion. India
IS so vast and contains among its
S2O,OO0,00O of inhabitants peoples OF
50 many different races and religions
tnat anything like a clear view Is next
70 impossible.
Nevertheless 1t is hard to escape the
conviction that the disturbances which
began when Gandhi opened his cam
pslgn OF passive resistance against the
SAT- tax has already passed the limits
Whlch the British government itself
1oresaw and is rapidly taking on the
appearance OF general demonstration.
The days news which reports trouble
a. PaShawar, near Khyber Pass. at
bombey, Madras Calcutta and Ran
COON discloseS a situation which would
only be paralleled geographically in the
united States by disorders in Boston
Los angeles, New Orleans and Chicago
AGAIN, the uproar which greeted the
kings birthday was particularly note
worthy because the Moslems were the
nloSI conspicuous OF those demonstra-
tors who celebrated the natal dav of
the Emperor with black flags and stone
throwing. MoSlem and Hindu are. it
would seem, able to agree at least in a.
common hostility to their British
sovereign.
Outlook Growing Darker.
:. II Is, too. becoming fairly clear that
Sne prospects of q reasonable comnro-
mise are growing DINNER as the dis
order spreads. Gandhi has said, in the
past, tnat ne would be satisfied with
dominion status of the Canadian va
rlety. But now that the cry for indie
Pendence Is being taken I'D on all sides
even Gandhi is reported to have Welded
70 the more extreme views among his
followers. as
But while the British are prepared to
concede measure of home rule NOT
only are they not now ready to grant
complete independence, but they have
GET their faces against the Canadian
form OF dominion status. In both
cases the reason is the same, the con-
people, or peoples, are as vet unpre-
pared Tor such great responsibilities
SlmpIe justice demands that one
recognize first that the British have
ALREADY made relatively enormous con-
ceSslonS in the matter of turning over
power and Offices to the natives and
tnat they are giving India what must
De perceived to be efficient and tust
government, far better government than
any INFORMED person believes would be
possible were independence achieved.
To understand the Indian situation
at all II Is essential to dismiss all notion
that the British are oppressive masters.
Ihat the plight Of the Indian peoples In
any sense suggests the abuses of Hans
burg rule in Austria or Turkish rule in
the Balkans. Britain brought order
and organization to India, the very edu-
Gated leaders who are now preaching
revoit are the product in the main of
British schools and teachings.
Independence for India TODAY would
unquestionably mean a long period of
political disorder and economic pros
tration. 1t might lead to a repetition
OF the events which have reduced China
TO its present unlucky state. Every
material consideration would seem to be
on the side Of the British association.
And yet something Of the same APP
peal to material considerations has
been made in many of the cases where
peoples or nations have sought liberty.
The diSlocation of the Austro-Hun
gartan Empire was an economic disaster
for practically all the fractions which
were created into separate nations. Yet
the material considerations did not
weigh against the moral and one may
doubt if any considerable number Of
Czechs, Poles, Rumanians or Italians
would be willing to return to the more
prosperous prewar status.
Spirit Of Nationality Spreading.
For Britons the whole history of the
nineteenth century must today be dis
tlrbing reading. During the full CEN
fury which separates the fall Of Napo-
leon from the outbreak of the World
War the spirit of nationality had been
sweeping across Europe, and the rights
OF peoples and tribes to misgoVern
themselves in accordance with their own
conceptions and desires had been es-
tablished as the result of many wars
and innumerable revolts. Turkey and
Austria before 1914, Germany and Rus
STA as consequence of the World War,
were obliged TO release the millions OF
subject races under their control. Even
England was compelled in Ireland to