INDIAN PROBLEMS.
[To TER EDITOR OP THE "Spzurvroo."1 SIR,—Those who are interested in Indian polities without knowing more about them than they can gather from their daily papers may perhaps find the following considerations useful. They should know that the attempted assassination of Mr. Allen, the Magistrate of Dacca, was preceded by a long series of anonymous threats. Similar threats are now addressed to other English officials in Eastern BengaL It is a significant fact, again, that, in spite of the large reward offered, no clue has been obtained to the identity of Mr. Allen's assailants. They were evidently educated men of some position, and to any one who knows the conditions of life in Bengal it is hardly conceivable that many of the native officials in Dacca have not some notion who the culprits are. In such circumstances administration in Eastern Bengal is attended by more than usual difficulty and danger, and our fellow-countrymen in those parts may well demand the fullest support and confidence. The only excuse for the campaign of terrorism which is being attempted is the partition of Bengal, with which the officials in question had nothing to do, and which they are powerless to alter.
An Indian friend of mine writes to me : "I was in the Punjab a few days ago. Matters are very quiet there, and the old relations between rulers and ruled have been revived. Everything is now discussed with confidence, for the trust of the people has been restored. Bengal is still restless."
If any one wishes to know how and why Bengal is still restless, he can hardly do better than procure the December number of the Indian World, published in Calcutta. There he may read the full text of the presidential speech which Dr. Rash Behan Ghose was to have delivered at the abortive Surat Congress. The rest of the number provides much food for thought for those who will read it calmly and impartially, and, indeed, contains more information as to the thought and political attitude of educated Bengalees than any number of scare headlines and sensational telegrams. I make no comments one way or the other. But I venture to say that any one who will carefully read the magazine I have just mentioned without prejudice for or against the Administration will better understand the difficulties our officials have to face at the present time. The wonder is that the ordinary—and extremely heavy—work they have to do is performed so well. It would be interesting to know how far the disturbed state of Bengal is due to the well-meant visits and encouragement of such men as Mr. Nevinson. It is not likely that they have much real understanding of their native friends, and it is more than possible that they convey a totally mistaken impression
to Indians of the average Englishman's opinions as to Indian government. It may be doubted whether the present is a good time for political theorists to visit a country whose own poli- ticians are in the frame of mind too plainly indicated by Dr. Rash Behari Ghose's very able and eloquent, but obviously embarrassed, speech.—I am, Sir, &c., J. D. A.
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