Page:Mahatma Gandhi, his life, writings and speeches.djvu/377

 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