124 THE SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN QUBSTION
In the cablegram the word 'assent* ooours twice. Id says the Bill has been assented to and it refers bo a deputation that is to wait on H, E, the Governor-Gener- al of Soubb Afrioa requesting him to witbbold assent The second use of the word 'assent' refers probably to a clause in the Liters Patent providing for the vetoing of class legislation, Toe clause is undoubtedly to be used under exceptional circumstances, No one can deny that the Asiatics Act constitutes a very exceptional circum- stance warranting the exaraiae of the Bsyal veto.
The most important part of the cablegram, bowever, is the faclj that tibe commission promised by the Union Government is to ba appointed as a ' con- cession" to "tbe detractors" of Indians in the Union Parliament. Unlesa, therefore, the Government of India take oare, there is every likelihood of the oommiasioi}, like the committee of the South African Assembly proving to the British IndianR a ourse, instead of a blessing. Ib is, therefore, not unnatural that the B'iMab Indian Association urges that H, E- the Viceroy should propose a Royal Commission upon which both the Union and the Indian interests are represented. Nothing can be fairer than the proposal made by Mr. Aswat. I say BO, because as a matter of right no com- mission is really needed to decide that Indian settlers are entitled to trade in South Afrioa where they like and hold landed property on the same terms as the European settlers, This is the minimum they can claim, But) under the complex constitution of this great Empire, justice is and has often to be done in a round-about manner, A wise captain, instead of sailing against a head-wind, tacks and yet reaches bis destination sooner than be otherwise would have. Even so. Mr, Aawafc
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