Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-23
midas Nationalist Spirit
Causing Present Unrest
70 the Editor Of The star:

70 the Editor Of The Star:
The world War brought about q re-
markable change in the relation be-
tween the colonies and their sovereign
countries. As one Of the European
countries after the other Joined this
greatest war of history, the colonies
sent their sons to the battle front to
fight side by side with their one-time
oppressors.
After the armistice, when the victo-
rious troops returned to their respective
countries. the colonial warriors came
home with the feeling that they had
done their duty and helped to win the
war. This feeling may be seen as
basis for the national movements which
have taken place and still are in progress
in the colonies. Good schools from
which the natives are graduating In In
creasingly large number and the rapid
economic development have strength
ened the feeling of independently of the
colonies, for knowledge and prosperity
will always cause thirst for liberty.
The highly cultured Europe set them
a good example. The downfall of the
two great imperial powers, Austria and
Russia, meant the erection of number
of new free republics. Out of the Rus
sian Empire sprang forth Finland,
Esthonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Poland,
all of which are now marching toward
sound economic independence. The
republics of Czechoslovakia and Hungary
separated from Austria. And, consider
ing the difficulties all these liberated
states have had to fight, they have all
without exception been very successful.
The colonial problem is no doubt
the foremost question in the world poll
tics today. The greatest colonial power
in the world, England, has often been
confronted by the increasing patriotic
feeling of its colonial subjects and has
also found 1t wise to grant them certain
concessions. The adjustment of the
British protectorate in Egypt in 1922
when this country became an independ-
ent kingdom, the government
granted the commonwealth of Austria
the extensive power granted the gov
eminent of the Union Of South Africa,
have for the time being turned them
into allies instead of into rebelliouS sub
jects of foreign oppressorS, and they
are enjoying an economic progress based
on peace. The present conditions are
thus of vast Importance to both parties,
but no doubt some future day they Will
no more form part OF the British
Empire. England's excuse for not grant,
ing India self-government 70 that the
population is not yet able to attend to the
matters of state. This may be right. but
the natives have q different opinion,
and the consequences are the rising
feelings against Great Britain. The pres
ent civil disobedience movement against
Britain is more serious than most people
think, and the SNOWFALL has just start
ed rolling. Mahatma de. 1.-The great
soul") Gandhi, the leader Of the move
ment, Is exceedingly popular with the
natives who consider him their liberia:
tor, and once the slumbering spirit OF
India Is reused the English supremacy
is In real danger.
whether Engiand's policy In handling
the situation in India today Is right. ID
a question that only the future can
answer. With the colonial experience
of the English statesmen, they no DOUBT
were aware Of the seriousness OF the
civil disobedience movement from the
start. They might have checked the
movement by repeating the salt law"
which Is the bone Of contention and the
apparent cause of the disturbance, but
on the other hand this would have been
considered q weakening of the English
policy in India. With the exception OF
the possible arrest of the great leader
himself, the arrest of Gandhis leaders
and friends was the greatest blunder the
English could have made. The fraction
of the indian people who believe more
in violence than in civil disobedience
considers this act violence on the
part of the British. And as violence can
only be met with violence, the result is
the clashes which have occurred, ana
which no doubt are mere forerunners
for more bloody encounters.
ARNVID NYGAARD.