THE INDIAN DANGER
[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—In your issue of July 20th you published a letter by a correspondent about the Indian danger. The danger lies precisely in believing in and advocating such ideas as your correspondent has put forth.
Let me point out a few of the misconceptions which your correspondent tries to propagate. It is true that some of the Indian politicians are demanding complete indepen- dence, but there is a larger section, all of us should know, which asks for Dominion self-government only. Lack of sympathy will certainly alienate this group too.
Secondly, it is time to recognize the fact, which I am sure can be easily verified, that there is a vast discontent among the masses now from all sorts of causes, in which the political is indistinguishably mixed, and becomes more or less prominent according to the briskness or otherwise of the propaganda of politicians. And, next, it should be clear to any person who has experience of present-day India, that politicians there have powerful influence in the country and with the masses, though it is true this influence is not simply due to their politics. It is this very influence, as can be seen from Lord Irwin's statement, which made it necessary to prolong the life of the present Legislative Assembly of India.
Lastly, I should like to point out the general discontent of the masses is daily taking the more definite shape of political discontent. A discontented India will ever be a great source of danger. On the contrary, a friendly India would mean a great strength and a great source of wealth to Great Britain. And the only way to make and keep India friendly and sym- pathetic is to give her the same measure of self-government as Britain has given to her other Dominions.—I am, Sir, &c.,
112 Halkett Place, Jersey, C.I. A. BANNER.
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