SEDITION IN INDIA.
[To THE EDITOR Or THE "SPECTATOR"]
SIR,—Mr. Irwin's scheme in your issue of November 7th for cutting at the roots of Indian treason by limiting, through a Training College, the numbers of disappointed candidates for public office will, I think, only touch the question at one point, though a very important one. No doubt want of occupation is at the bottom of much of the disaffection and mischief- mongering in India ; but even with a Training College or Training Colleges there would still be as many persons outside Government employ as before. Nor can we withhold the best education we know of from all who desire it. The real cause of the difficulties in India is that ever since the Japanese successes against Russia many of the Indians have become possessed of the idea that England is not the strong Power she was, that India has a chance of independence (no matter for how long or of what kind), and that it only needs continued agitation, and even intimidation, to effect a severance. They are encouraged in these beliefs by the sight of Little Englanders and sentimentalists at home ; of the numerous enemies of England in Ireland, Germany, the United States, and other places ; and, above all, by the study of the real sores in our body social and politic which a feverish Press, not perhaps to our harm, does nothing to conceal. It is only when, perhaps after many years, these anti-English Indians shall have been con- vinced by our maintenance of our old national virtues, by our calmness, and also by our resolve at all costs to stand by our duty to their country, that they will cease to exaggerate into "Russian despotism" the minor and miscellaneous complaints which are the best they can find against the British Government, a Government under which they are already on a complete footing of practical political equality with Englishmen.—I am, Sir, &c.,
INDIA AND ENGLAND.
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