The Government now intend to introduce, in March next, laws restricting the influx of the Indians. Town Councils have been asking the Government for widest powers to enable them to prevent Indians from taking out licences to trade, owning landed property, etc. What the outcome will be it is difficult to say. Our only hope lies in you and the gentlemen working in London in our behalf. In any case, it is time some declaration was made as to the policy of the Home Government with regard to the Indians going outside India. The continuation of assisted immigration to Natal under the circumstances seems to be a great anomaly. There is absolutely no danger of the Asiatics swamping the Colony. There is no competition between Indian and European artisans. It may almost be said that for every Indian coming to Natal one returns to India. The whole of this matter will be fully dealt with in a memorial to Mr. Chamberlain that is in course of preparation. This letter has been sent in the mean while to furnish you with a brief summary of the past events. We are aware that your time is otherwise well occupied. But, however reluctant we may be to trouble you with our sorrows, we find no escape from the course if we are to get justice.
Thanking you on behalf of the Indian community in Natal,
I remain,
Your obedient servant,
M. K. GANDHI
From a photostat of the office copy: S.N. 1967
- 23↑ The source does not mention the addressee, but from Hunter’s acknowledgment in his letter of February 22, 1897 (S.N. 2074), it is clear that he had received it. Presumably similar letters were sent to the British Committee of the Indian National Congress and Sir Mancherji Bhownaggree.
- 24↑ Vide the preceding item.
- 25↑ Cf. however "Memorial to Secretary of State for the Colonies", 15-3-1897, where the date given is April 7.
- 26↑ Vide also "Memorial to Secretary of State for the Colonies", 15-3-1897.
- 27↑ For an extract from this, vide “Memorial to Secretary of State for the Colonies", 15-3-1897.
- 28↑ The European Protection Association and the Colonial Patriotic Union; vide “Memorial to Secretary of State for the Colonies", 15-3-1897.
- 29↑ Vide also “Memorial to Secretary of State for the Colonies", 15-3-1897.
Letter to the British Agent (29-1-1897)
[DURBAN,]
NATAL,
January 29, 1897
HIS HONOUR THE BRITISH AGENT
PRETORIA
SIR,
Many Indians, intending to proceed to the Transvaal via Charlestown find difficulty in crossing the border. Some days ago, the official on the border allowed Indians possessing £25 to proceed to their destination in the Transvaal. Now it is said the official on the border would not allow the Indians to cross the border under any circumstances, though some may have
