HC Deb 17 November 1930 vol 245 cc4-6
5. Major POLE

asked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make a statement as to the present position in India?

Mr. BENN

I am circulating a statement giving the Government of India's appreciation of the situation to date.

Following is the statement:

Appreciation of the situation by the Government of India up to 15th November, 1930.

North West Frontier.—As reported in last week's summary, a letter has been received from Maliks and Elders asking for a further opportunity of discussions with a view to a settlement with Government. A reply has been sent that Government is prepared to meet then in jirga on 17th November and discussions are expected to be resumed on that date.

There was some recrudescence of picketing in Peshawar City during the week. As before, picketers who appeared in parties of two or three only were taken into custody.

Internal India.—Demonstrations in Bombay City appear to have been on a smaller scale than during the past few weeks but it has been again necessary to disperse several gatherings and on two occasions there has been stone-throwing by members of the crowd. In other parts of the Presidency, the Local Government have taken further action under the Criminal Law Amendment Act and have declared certain associations to be unlawful. In the Belgaum District action was taken against a village, the people of which are believed to have been responsible for the cutting of telegraph wires, stone-throwing at passing motors, and other acts of lawlessness. In Gujerat, there has been a definite improvement in the collection of arrears of land revenue and many cases occur in which land revenue payers, while maintaining the pretence of opposition, make secret payments to the revenue staff. The organised refusal to pay Government dues is much less widespread than it was. The fortnightly reports of the Central Provinces and of Delhi Province were received after the issue of last appreciation. For the Central Provinces, the last fortnight of October is described as the quietest for several months. Agitation has been on the wane generally. Picketing of liquor shops has declined everywhere and has ceased entirely in two divisions. The breach of Forest Laws has been limited to a few districts and cloth is selling more freely. Meetings have been fewer and speeches more guarded. The aboriginal tribes are settling down and one of their leaders has recanted and is now carrying out propaganda on behalf of Government. Apologies before and after trial are more frequent and this feature is common to many Provinces. Apart from terrorist activities, of which mention has been made in previous appreciations, there has also been definite improvement in Delhi Province, where the situation a few weeks ago showed some signs of deterioration. Action taken against the local leaders and against several associations has had a good effect and the supply of volunteers is reported to be running short. The Government of Bihar and Orissa report trouble at Jamalpur arising out of attacks on liquor shops by labourers employed on the railway. A series of incidents culminated on the 12th in the forcible rescue [...]isoners from policy custody and by an attack on the police. The police were forced to open fire but the crowd continued to advance and a number of policemen were injured and their ranks broken. The crowd in the meantime continued to stone then and fire had again to be opened. In all there were 23 casualties among the crowd, of whom four were killed. Among the police, 24 received injuries. No disturbance after the 12th has been reported.

The assent of the Governor-General has been given to a Bill passed by the Punjab Legislative Council which will, while adequately protecting the interests of the accused, facilitate the trial of persons accused of offences connected with the terrorist movement, by substituting trial by a tribunal of three members in place of proceedings before a magistrate, followed by trial by a Sessions Judge. The Bill follows closely the similar Act in force in Bengal, which was passed by the Provincial Council in March last, and thus in both Provinces the Legislatures have shown their desire to support Government in reasonable measures against the terrorist menace. The Punjab Legislative Council, while leaving the main principles of the Bill unchanged, passed several amendments, all of which were accepted by Government except one, of which a modification was recommended to the Council by the Governor and then accepted. The Act will be in force for two years, with power to the Local Government to extend it for a further three years.

It is too early as yet to estimate the attitude of Indian public opinion towards the Government of India Despatch on reforms, but whatever that attitude may be, there is no doubt that the Round Table Conference is attracting great interest in India and is directing a good deal of public attention towards constructive methods of obtaining a solution of constitutional problems.