INDIAN PERPLEXITIES
Snt,—An entirely adequate answer can be given to all Mr. Hickman Johnson's questions on this subject in your issue of April gth. I confine myself to two. He asks wherein sabotage in Europe and India differ, the assumption being that if the former is morally permissible the latter should be likewise. The one is justifiable insurrection against a lawless maurauding intruder, the other is senseless violence incited by those who efuse self-controlled freedom for their country because they aspire to tional dominance. To Mr. Johnson the way of peace is negotiation, by hich he evidently means interminable talk and compromise with recal- trants. If negotiation be the way, then it holds on both sides and erefore sabotage by Indians is more culpable than any imagined inertia Government. Further, while Mr. Johnson has a perfect right to his ''inion on this matter, his expression of opinion will be quoted by e native Press of India not as that of a private individual but of a ssionary official. Will this serve the cause of peace?
Mr. Johnson in his last question appropriates the term "Christian salesmanship" for his suggested course of action. Some of us feel the istinctive feature in the conduct of affairs by the Government is their xercise in Christian fashion of the virtues of patience and forbearance. there are any of Mr. Johnson's quondam missionary colleagues who ympathise with his outlook, I, after lifelong intimacy with his Indian ode, do not know of them. It is unwarranted assumption on the part Mr. Johnson that the Christian Church in India supports his position. here is no authority empowered to speak for all Christians or even a aiority. Unquestionably all British missionaries there eagerly desire o see its people free in every true sense. That, indeed, is one supreme otive and result of their service there that few, if any, confuse the
issue by recognising political freedom in the dominance of a group of India's people, however large and noisy. Where Mr. Johnson errs is that he puts the onus on Government, not on the Iridian leaders. Negotiation will fail so long as the latter persist in their intransigence.
—Yours faithfully, GEORGE M. KERR. Glen Eden, Cove, Dumbartonshire.
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