Page:The Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi, vol. 2.djvu/185

 has not scores of Indians as “clients”. The coolie “farmer” is encouraged and maintained by the Europeans in two ways: he has to rent or buy his land from the original European possessor, and his products are, for the most part, consumed in the European households. If it were not for the coolie marketgardeners and hawkers, the people of Durban (and other parts of the Colony) would find themselves very badly off for many kitchen requisites. Then, with respect to the Indian domestic servants, the only remark necessary is that, as a body, they have proved themselves to be much superior, in capacity, reliability and obedience, to the average Kaffir. It would probably be found, on close examination, that several of those who have associated themselves with the recent agitation have Indians in their employ. Indians are also largely engaged in Government service, while the Government also provides them with the means of education, and consequently of advancement. Seeing, then, that the Europeans are primarily responsible for the benefits that have accrued to those Indians already in the Colony, it has the appearance of unreasonableness on their part to suddenly oppose the landing of any more. But, in addition to all this, there is the Imperial aspect of the question. This is the most formidable of all. So long as Natal remains a part of the British Empire (a circumstance which depends on Britain and not Natal), so long will the Imperial Government insist that the laws of the Colony shall not be repugnant to the general welfare and development of the Empire. India is part of the Empire; and the Imperial and Indian Governments are imbued with a determination to prove to the civilized world that the retention of India by Britain is for the benefit of the Indians. This, however, would not be the case if something could not be done to relieve the congested districts of India of their surplus population. This can only be effected by encouraging the Indians in those parts to emigrate. Britain has not the power nor the wish to force the surplus Indian population upon any country. But she certainly has the power to decline to allow any portion of the British Empire, where her Indian subjects are sought for by one section of the community, to shut its gates against them at the behest of another section of the same community. And so far as Natal is concerned, judging from the number of requisitions that go to India for further supplies of Indian labour, were anything to take place by which that supply was stopped, Natal and not India would be the greater sufferer.—Star, Friday, 8th January, 1897.


 * We regard the proceedings as, to say the least, premature, and we cannot regard without apprehension a demonstration which is practically in the direction of mob law . . . The Colony must guard against putting itself in the wrong, which would be the effect of any outburst