INDIA AND HER FRIENDS.
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In your article, "India and her Friends," in the *Spectator of August 25th, you have, I am sure unintentionally, done considerable injustice to the Anti-opium party. We have repeatedly, in the organ of this Society, and in letters and the Press, protested against the Indian taxpayer being saddled 'with any part of the costs of the Commission. The resolution which was proposed on our behalf in the House of Commons last year, and supported by the votes of the five gentlemen tamed in your article, contained the following expressions of opinion L- " Recognising that the people of India ought not to be called upon to bear the cost involved in this change of policy [i.e., the suppres- sion of the opium traffic, condemned by the House of Commons in 1891 by a majority of 81 votes], that oppressive taxation and the stoppage of expenditure necessary for the welfare and pro- gress of the Indian people must be avoided, this House is of opinion that a Royal Commission should be appointed to inquire, both in India and in this country, and to report as to (1) what retrenchments and reforms can be effected in the military and ,civil expenditure of India ; (2) by what means Indian resources can be best developed ; and (3) what, if any, temporary assistance .from the British Exchequer would be required in order to meet any -deficit of revenue which would be occasioned by the suppression of the opium traffic."
I submit that the position we have taken np is perfectly just to the Indian taxpayer. For myself, I can assure you that in the future, as in the past, I shall never consent to "stump the .country" in support of the suppression of India's opium trade, except on the express condition that at least that portion of it which relates to China—from which nearly all the profit is derived—shall be made good, not by additional taxation on India, but, if needs be, by assistance from this country.—I am, Sir, &o., JOSEPH G. ALEXANDER,
Hon. Sec. Society for the Suppression of the Opium Trade, Broad- way Chambers, Westminster, S.W., August 28th.
[We have been obliged, from want of space, to publish only a portion of our correspondent's letter.—ED. Spectator.]
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