24 MARCH 1894, Page 2

Mr. Fowler should look into the Indian Budget closely. The

statement made by Mr. Westland on Wednesday looks more favourable than the previous account, because there is an improvement of a million in railway revenue, and of half- a-million in the revenue from land. The first improvement may be all right, even if rates have been a little increased, bat

there is grave reason for doubting the second. We are assured on authority which convinces us that the improvement is due to resettlements in which the ryots are getting terribly squeezed. Their rates are raised everywhere, and the conse- quent discontent, especially in the Punjab, is very deep. India must pay ber expenses of course somehow, but to grind, the peasants in order to build fortresses in Afghanistan, an& to save Lancashire manufacturers from competition, is very bad policy. It is because the peasants acquiesce in our rule- that we are safe in India.