PARIAHS OF THE EMPIRE

The memorable Conference at Gujrat in its resolution on the status of Indians abroad has given it as its opinion that even this question may become one more reason for non-co-operation.  And so it may.  Nowhere has there been such open defiance of every canon of justice and propriety as in the shameless decision of confiscation of Indian rights in the Kenia Colony announced by its Governor.  This decision has been supported by Lord Milnor and Mr. Montagu.  And his Indian colleagues are satisfied with the decision.  Indians, who have made East Africa, who out-number the English, are deprived practically of the right of representation on the Council.  They are to be segregated in parts not habitable by the English.  They are to have neither the political nor the material comfort.  They are to become ‘Pariahs’ in a country made by their own labour, wealth and intelligence.  The Viceroy is pleased to say that he does not like the outlook and is considering the steps to be taken to vindicate the justice.  He is not met with a new situation.  The Indians of East Africa had warned him of the impending doom.  And if His Excellency has not yet found the means of ensuring redress, he is not likely to do it in future.  I would respectfully ask his Indian colleagues whether they can stand this robbery of their countrymen rights.

In South Africa the situation is not less disquieting.  My misgivings seem to be proving true, and repatriation is more likely to prove compulsory than voluntary.  It is a response to the anti-Asiatic agitation, not a measure of relief for indigent Indians.  It looks very like a trap laid for the unwary Indian.  The Union Government appears to be taking an unlawful advantage of a section of a relieving law designed for a purpose totally different from the one now intended.

As for Fiji, the crime against humanity is evidently to be hushed up.  I do hope that unless an inquiry is to be made into the Fiji Martial Law doings, no Indian member will undertake to go to Fiji.  The Government of India appear to have given an undertaking to send Indian labour to Fiji provided the commission that was to proceed there in order to investigate the condition on the spot returns with a favourable report.

For British Guiana I observe from the papers received from that quarter, that the mission that came here is already declaring that Indian labour will be forthcoming from India.  There seems to me to be no real prospect for Indian enterprise in that part of the world.  We are not wanted in any part of the British Dominion except as Pariahs to do the scavenging for the European settlers.