Mahatma Gandhi, his life, writings and speeches/Lord Hardinge on the South African Situation
_22_pg_249_Lord_Hardinge.png)
LORD HARDINGE.
The Viceroy who won all hearts in India by his
daring and patriotic Speech demanding
Commission of inquiry
in South Africa.
APPENDIX IV
LORD HARDINGE ON THE SOUTH
AFRICAN SITUATION
In reply to the address presented by the Madras Mahajana Sabha on Monday the 24th November 1913, His Excellency the Viceroy spoke as follows:—
The position of Indians in South Africa has for some years past received the most anxious consideration of the Government of India, and, as the Mahajana Sabha acknowledge, they are doing all that lies in their power to ensure fair treatment for Indians residing within the Union.
The Act, of which you complain, has in practice the effect of putting a stop to Asiatic emigration to South Africa, though it does not discriminate in so many words against Asiatics. We have, however, succeeded in securing the privilege of entry for a limited number of educated Indians annually. We have also made special endeavours to secure as favourable terms as possible for Indians already resident in the Union, and our efforts have resulted in the inclusion of provisions for the right of appeal to the Courts on points of law, and of a definition of domicile, in accordance with which the position of Indians, who entered the Union otherwise than under indenture, has been satisfactorily laid down.
We are at the present moment in communication with the Secretary of State regarding other restrictions contained in the Act to which we take exception and we trust that our representations may not be without result.
You have urged in your address that retaliatory measures should be taken by the Government of India but you have not attempted to state the particular measures which in your opinion should be adopted As you are aware we forbade indentured emigration to Natal in 1911: and the fact that the Natal planters sent a delegate over to India, to beg for a reconsideration of that measure shows how hardly it hit them. But I am afraid it has had but little effect upon South Africa as a whole, and it is unfortunately not easy to find means by which India can make her indignation seriously felt by those who hold the reins of Government in that country.
Recently, your compatriats in South Africa have taken matters into their own hands by organising, what is called passive resistance to laws which they consider invidious and unjust—an opinion which we who watch their struggles from afar cannot but share.
They have violated as they intended to violate, those laws, with full knowledge of the penalties volved, and ready with all courage and patience to endure those penalties. In all this they have the sympathy of India—deep and burning—and not only of India, but of all those who like myself, without being Indians themselves, have feelings of sympathy for the people of this country.
But the most recent developments have taken a very serieus turn and we have seen the widest publicity given to allegations that this movement of passive resistance has been dealt with by measures which would not for a moment be tolerated in any country that claims to call itself civilised.
These allegations have been met by a categorical denial from the responsible Government of South Africa, though even their denial contains admissions which do not seem to me to indicate that the Union Government have exercised a very wise discretion in some of the steps which they have adopted. That is the position at this moment, and I do feel that if the South African Government desire to justify themselves in the eyes of India and the world only one course is open to them and that is to appoint a strong and impartial committee, upon which Indian interests shall be fully represented, to conduct a thorough and searching enquiry into the truth of these allegations; and as the communique that day appeared in this morning's papers will show you, I have not hesitated to press that view upon the Secretary of State. Now that, according to telegraphic accounts received in this country from South Africa, such disorder as arose has completely ceased, I trust that the Government of the Union will fully realise the imperative necessity of treating a loyal section of their fellow subjects in a spirit of equity and in accordance with their rights as free citizens of the British Empire, You may rest assured that the Government of India will not cease to urge these considerations upon His Majesty's Government.