British Empire League
Sindh Branch, its activities
1)
INTRODUCTION
Karachi Branch of the British Empire League was
inaugurated on 5th
March 1906 with aim to protect and propagate the
interests of the Ruling Class and community. London
was the Head Quarter of the League. On the eve of
its establishment in Sindh 85 members were enrolled
as its members. They consist of various communities
such as Hindu, Muslim ant Parsi besides, Ruling
community. Mr. A.D. Young husband was its founder
President, whereas Mr. Webb became its founder Vice
President.
In 1907, following were the office-bearers:
President:
A.D. Younghusband
(commissioner-in-Sindh)
V.President:
H.N.Crouch (Additional com.-in-Sindh)
Hon.Secretary &
Treasurer:
P.Wren (Acting
Educational Inspector)
Working/Managing
Committee:
Mr. A.Lucas
(Judicial commissioner),
Col.Westmorland (Commonding Karachi Brigade)
Mr.H.C.Mules (Collector Karachi)
Sir Edmund Cox Bart (I.G.Police,Sindh)
Col. Travers (South West Borders)
Mr. J.Forrest Bruton (Chief Officer K.M.C)
Dr.V.N.Nazareth, Prof.Sahibsing Shahani,
Mr.Teckchand Udhavdas, Mr.
Ghulam Ali
Chagla,Mr.N.D.Dinshaw and Mr.Ysif Ali
Alibhoy.
In 1909 following
were the office-bearers of the League:
President:
W.H.Lucas
V.President:
M.de P.Webb
Secretary &
Treasurer:
C.N.Brockbank
Managing
Committee:
Brig.General
C.H.Westmorland,
Col. C.H.
Price
Lt. Col. H.E.Voyle
Commander N.F.J. Wilson
H.T. Robson
Harcandrai
Vishindas
Prof.H.C. Shahani
N.E. Dinshaw
Ghulam Ali
Chagla
Yousif ali
Alibhoy
Mir Ayoob
Khan
E. L. Price
The British Empire
League on the eve of the anniversary of the birth of
the late Queen Empress Victoria celebrated EMPIRE
DAY every year since its inception. The league also
arranged lecture program for its members and
citizens. Some of lectures were given on the
following topics and dates:
·
On
27.01.1912 Vice President of the League delivered
his lecture on the subject of “Sindh and Punjab: to
be or not to be”. The speaker dwelt with the topic
with special reference to merits and demerits of
amalgamation of Sindh with Punjab after separating
Sindh from Mumbai Presidency. This lecture program
was presided over by Mr. M.E.M. Pratt.
·
On
31.05.1912, Dr. Dhalla delivered his lecture on the
topic of “East and West”. It was arranged in Ferer
Hall. Dr. Dhalla in his lecture indicated common
factors and different position of East and West.
·
On
20.01.1914, Mr. H.N. Crouch of Karachi Chamber of
Commerce gave lecture on the topic of “The British
Merchants in India”. In his lecture he threw light
on the past, present and future of British Merchants
in India.
Formation of the
Ladies
of the Empire Association
This association was
formed on 28th
of January, 1921 with the initiate of Lady M.de P.
Webb. In the meeting held in her home, the following
aims and objectives were proposed and passed:
1)
To promote social interaction between leading ladies
of various communities,
2)
To provide social services to needy individuals and
families.
Mr. Neilson was
appointed as an honorary treasurer of this
association. All the ladies belonging to the British
officers and army men and our important Hindu and
Parsi families were nominated as members of this
association. Leading members were as under:
Dadi
Nannavati, Mrs. Aston, Mrs. Sethna, Mrs. Punthakey,
Mrs. Mulchand Khialdas, Mrs. Haji Haroon, Mrs.
Vajifder, Mrs. Elphinston, Mrs. Chilty, Mrs.
A.C.Wild, Mrs. R.R.Gibson, Mrs. Homi Mehta, Mrs.
P.Bilimora, Mrs. Limbuwal, Mrs. Hatim Tayyabji, Mrs.
Jagannath, Mrs. Hallifax, Mrs. Bowtell-Harris and
Mrs. Karaka etc.
In 1929, the total
number of members of the association was 186,
regular monthly meetings were held for collection of
donations in cash and kind. The amount and articles
collected by the association were being presented to
various maternity homes and hospitals.
In 1929, following
were the office bearers of the association:
President:
Mrs. A.C. Wild (wife of additional judicial
commissioner)
Vice President:
Mrs. R.E
Gibson (from British officers)
Mrs. Homi Mehta
(from Parsi Community)
Mrs. Haji Abdullah Haroon (from
Muslim Community)
Mrs. Moolchand Khialdas
(from Hindu Community)
Cutter-out:
Mrs.
D .E. Katrak
Needle work
Supervisor:
Mrs. P.Bilimora
Honorary
Secretary:
Mrs. Limbuwal
Honorary
Treasurer:
Mrs. Tobutt
Member of central
committee:
Mrs. Hatim Tayyabji,
Mrs. Jagannath, Mrs. Hallifax and Mrs. Karaka
3)
Meetings
Meeting
held on Saturday, 1st
July 1909 @12 Staff lines, Subject of the Baghdad
Railway was discussed at Some length. Those Present
included. Mr. W.H. lucas (President), M.de P. Webb (V.P),
Col: C.H.u. Price, lt.col. H.E Voyle, E.L.Price,
Prof. S.C. Shahani (Member of committee) and some
fifteen memners, Several ladies were also present.
The general conclusion arrived @by col. Voyle was
that it was to G.Britian’s Present interests to
discourage the building of the line by withholding
all financial Support. But Webb challenged this
conclusion and said that it would prove of
considerable advantage to India and to Empire
generally.
It was announced that H.E Sir George Clarke,
Governor of Bombay had consented to be patron of the
Karachi Branch of this Empire league.
·
A
meeting of members of the Karachi branch of
the British Empire league was held on Saturday
17-07-1909, at 12:00, staff lines, Karachi, when the
subject of the Baghdad Railway discussed at some
length. Those present included Mr. W.H. Locas, I.C.S.
President; The Honourable Mr. M.de P. Webb, C.I.E.;
Vice President, General C.H. Wastmoreland, Colonel
C.H.U. Price and professor S.C. Shahahni, Memmber of
committee, and some fifteen members, several ladies
were also present.
Colonel Voyle delivered an excellent address on the
origin, growth and possibilities of the Baghdad
Railway Scheme, dealing with his subject from the
historical, political, commercial and strategically
point of view. The general conclusion arrived that
by Colonel Voyle was that it was to Great Britan’s
present interest to discourage the building of the
line by withholding all financial support.
It was announced at this meeting, that His
Excellency Sir George Clarke, Governor of Bombay,
had kindly consented to be Pattern of the Karachi
Brach of the British Empire League.
·
The Annual General Meeting
of the Karachi Branch of the British Empire League
was held at the Frere Hall, Karachi on 3rd
August, 1909 (Tuesday), Mr. W.H. Lucas, I.C.S.,
presiding.
The President having taken the chair, called upon
the Honorary Secretary to read the Managing
Committees Report for 1908-09. Mr. C.N.Brock-bank
responded. During the past year the Committee had
arranged to Meetings, encouraged the celebration of
Empire Day, and obtained full and complete
information regarding the difficulties between
Indians and the Transvaal Govt. in South Africa. It
had not been part practicable to take any official
action in this last matter, but representations and
enquiries for information were made privately to all
the Chambers of Commerce in South Africa and replies
received and copies of official correspondence
between the Transvaal and the Supreme Governments
and other publications were available for the use of
Members and Associations who may desire to the study
the subject. The roll of membership now being 61 and
of Associations 34. After this the report was
unanimously adopted.
Mr E.L Price proposed that the Managing
Committee for the ensuring year should be composed
as follows:-
Br. General C.H. Westmorland, C.B;
Col.C.H.U.Price, D.S.O; Lt. Col. H.E. Voyle;
Commander N.J.F. Wilson, R.I.M; H.T. Robson, Esq;
Harchandri Vishindas, Esq; Proffessor Shahibsing
C.Shahani; Nadirshaw E. Dinshaw, Esq; Ghulam Ali G.
Ghagla, Eaq; Yusafali Ali bhoy, Esq; Mir Ayub Khan,
W.H Lucas, Esq, i.c.s.__President. The Hon. M.M.de
P.webb, C.I.E __vice president; C.N. Brock bank,
Esq.__ Hon. Secretary and Treasurer.
Mr. J.Kothari, seconded the proposed.
The Hon. Mr. Webb, moved that the name of Mr. E.L.
Price be included in the Managing Committee for
1909-10.
The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. M.de
P.webb addressed the meeting on the subject of “Mr.
Lloyd George’s Budget Proposals” which he understood
would be described as “A New Era in Finance.”
The meeting closed with a vote of thanks
to the President.
4) Appeal of local branch Empire league
Empire day
“The movement which
annually finds expression on the anniversary of the
birth of the late Queen Empress Victoria, has for
its main objects the training of the rising
generation in the virtues of loyalty and Patriotism
and in the duties and responsibilities attaching to
the membership of British Empire. Empire day is a
day or rejoicing and thanks giving for all British
subjects ___rejoicing, because of the progress
already made, and the freedom and security attained
under the aegis of British rule: and thanks giving,
because it is impossible to regard their conditions
of the development as we see them through out the
various parts of the British Empire at the present
day without a feeling of gratitude to the great
creator of all Empires for the many blessings we now
enjoy. Empire day is officially recognized as a
holiday in practically all the Colonies and
Dependencies of the British Empire and although
Govt. have not made yet 24th
May a Saturday Holiday in India, it is nevertheless
practically observed as such in many parts of this
great Dependency. Since 1906, the year in which
Empire Day was first observed in Sind, each 24th
May has been recognized as an un official holiday,
and it is hoped that the people of Karachi and of
Sind will, this year exhibit the same recognition of
the late Queen “Empress” birthday as hereafter.
THE BRITISH EMPIRE LEAGUE
KARACHI BRANCH
The first annual general meeting of the Karachi
Branch of the British Empire League was held in the
Frere Hall on Wednesday, March 13th, at 7-30 P.M.
The hall was well filled and in addition to the
members and associates of the League, a considerable
number of the general public attended to hear the
address by the Hon'ble Mr. M. de P, Webb, C. L. E.
Vice President of the Karachi Branch, (Which
followed the business of accepting the Committee's
draft Report for the year 1906, and the election of
officers and committee for the year 1907.
In the absence ( on tour ) of the President,
Mr. A. D. Young husband, i. C. S. Commissioner in
Sindh, the chair was taken by the Hon'ble Mr. Webb,
supported by Messrs. Thole, Wren, Shahani, Din-shah
and Chagla.
The chairman first called upon the Hon. Secretary to
read the draft Report for the year 1966, Mr. Wren
then read as follows:-
THE REPORT
This Branch of the League was inaugurated on the 5th
March, 1906 at a public meeting held at the Frere
Hall, Karachi, The Commissioner in Sind, Mr. A.D.
Younghusband, I.C.S., occupied the chair and there
was a large and representative gathering of
the leading English and Indian members of the
community. The Hon'ble Mr. M.de P, Webb, C.I.E.,
delivered an address on the subject of "The Empire
and the League".
This Branch of the League took an active part in
securing the observance of Empire Day - 21th May -
as a public holiday in Sindh. On this occasion most
business houses were closed, the leading shops of
Karachi were shut and a liberal display of bunting
reflected the feelings of the public. Most schools
observed the day as a holiday. The Queen Victoria
Memorial at Karachi was beautifully wreathed with
flowers. By kind permission of Lieut Colonel King
Hunter and Officers, the Band of the South Wales
Borderers played at the Frere Hall Bandstand. In the
evening a public meeting of members and friends of
the League was held at the Frere Hall when Mr. H.C.
Mules, M.V.O., Collector of Karachi delivered an
address on "India and the Empire", The President of
the League, Mr. A.D. Younghusband, I.C.S.,
Commissioner in Sindh, occupied the chair.
The third and last meeting of the League in 1906 was
held at the newly built Khalak dina Hall on
September 15th, when Sir Edmund Cox read a paper on
"Imperialism versus Anti Imperialism". The meeting
was largely attended! And a spirited discussion
followed An Indian Member of the League - Professor
Shahani - contributed a very interesting and loyal
speed.
The membership of the Karachi Branch of the League
now amounts to 85 and includes supporters from so
far afield as Bhatinda, Lahore, Sukkur, Poona and
Bombay. The total amount received in subscriptions
up to December 31st, 1906, was 738 rupees; and 568
rupees have been remitted to Headquarters in London,
Rs. 128-8-0 were expended in local charges, and the
balance Rs. 41-8-0 carried forward to 1907.
The Hon'ble Mr. Webb then moved that the Deport be
adopted. - Carried unanimously.
The next item on the Agenda was the election of
officers and committee for 1907. Mr. Thode proposed,
and the Hon'ble Mr. Webb seconded, the following
gentlemen:-
President - A,D. Younghusband, Esq., I.C.S.,
Commissioner in Sindh; Vice President - H.N. Crouch,
Esq., Additional Judicial Commissioner of Sindh;
Hon. Secretary and Treasurer - P. Wren, Esq., M.A.,
Acting Educational Inspector in Sindh; Committee - A
Lucas, Esq., I.C.S., Judicial Commissioner of Sindh;
Colonel Westmorland, Commanding Karachi Brigade; H.
C. Mules, Esq. M.V.O., Collector of Karachi; Sir
Edmund Cox, Bart, inspector General of Police in
Sindh; Col. Travers, South West Borderers; Mr. J.
Forrest Brunton, M.I.C.E., M.I.M.E., Chief Officer,
Karachi Municipality; Dr. V. E. Nazareth; Professor
Shabsing shahani, Sindh Arts College; Mr. Teckchand
Udhavdas, Public Prosecutor; Mr. Ghulam Ali G.
Chagla; Mr.
Nadir shah E. Dinshaw; and Mr. Usafali
Alibhoy, Carried nem com.
The Hon'ble Mr. M. de P. Webb, who had not
been re-elected Vice President as he was proceeding
on long leave next day, then vacated the chair which
was taken by the new Vice -President, Mr. H. N.
Crouch, whose installation was warmly applanded.
Mr. Thole then proposed, and Professor Shahani
seconded, that the services of the Hon'ble Mr. Webb,
as Vice President of the Karachi Branch should be
put on record, and a vote of thanks to him passed,
Carried unanimously.
Mr. Crouch then called upon Mr. Webb for his
Paper upon "Swadeshi ^overnents,"
MR. WEBB'S SPEECH.
Swadeshi Movements.
Mr. Chairman, Members of the British Empire League,
Ladies and Gentlemen - I must preface my remarks
with an apology. I see by the notices convening this
meeting, that I am down to "read a paper" on
Swadeshi Movements. You are therefore no doubt
expecting a carefully prepared and closely reasoned
lecture. Unfortunately the pressure on my spare
moments has been so great during my last few days in
Karachi that I have had no time to make any but the
slenderest attempt at preparation. I beg,
therefore, you will grant me a little indulgence
and forgive all shortcomings in the few brief
remarks I am about to offer.
Probably all here present will know that the word "Swadeshi"
means "own country". A Swadeshi movement is
therefore a movement in favour, or in support, of
one's own country. Swadeshi goods are home made
goods. I need hardly say that sincere and genuine
Swadeshi movements are not likely to receive other
than the warmest sympathy from a people like the
British, one of whose most favourite national songs
is " Home, Sweet Home". It has unfortunately
happened that owing to the Indian Swadeshi movement
being so frequently referred to in connection with
the political affairs of Bengal, and with the
efforts of certain misguided enthusiasts to
establish a boycott of all English and
Foreign made commodities in this country, English
people are now liable to regard all people who talk
Swadeshi with suspicion and dis-favour. On the other
hand certain Indians unaware apparently of
Government's policy, and their English friends' real
feelings in regard to the genuine Indian Swadeshi
movements, are inclined to see hostility to their
ambitions and ideals where no such hostility exists.
It is parley in the hope of removing these
misunderstandings that I am venturing to address
you this evening.
The Swadeshi movement is nothing new. Twenty years
ago some of the shop-keepers in this presidency used
to exhibit signboards and notices inviting their
customers to support home industries by buying
their particular wares which were declared to be of
Swadeshi manufacture, This appeal to patriotic
Indians was no doubt based on the hope of material
benefits to the shop keeper rather than any
widespread and far seeing ambition to develops and
expand the industries of this country. At the same
time it was perfectly legitimate and wholesome, and
it is quite certain that English people would be the
last persons in the world to take any exception to
efforts of this kind. As years went on, the more
educated and enlightened members of the Indian
community have endeavoured by frequent appeals to
the sentiments and good sense of their countrymen,
to increase the Interest in, and stimulate the
development of, Indian products, Indian manufactures
and, in short, everything Indian - an endeavour
that, as I shall presently show, the
Government of this country have done their best to
support in every way possible. Curing the last year
or two, when feelings in Bengal in connection with
the re-arrangement of the machinery of the
administration of that Province, have, in some
instances, run wild, various attempts to establish a
boycott of foreign made goods by the employment of
physical violence, have been made, and under the
banner of “Swadeshi” too. Every right thinking
person can only deplore these misguided efforts. The
cause of Swadeshi is hardly likely to be advanced by
assaults on poor shop keepers, or by the wanton
destruction of the goods they may be attempting to
sell. Then, again, we have all heard of the
pamphlets or leaflets that were distributed widely
in the Punjab and other Parts of Northern India a
short time ago stating that foreign made sugar was
manufactured by the aid of animal blood and bones
and calling upon all good Hindus to avoid the use of
such sugar in future. Now seeing of sugar - cane or
beet - we can only infer that the writers and
distributors of the pamphlet must have acted in
cross ignorance or with deliberately malicious
intent; and as the publication of lies of this
character are more likely to create ill feeling and
race prejudice rather than forward the cause of the
Indian Swadeshi movement, we can only hope that a
wide publication of the real facts of the case will
have the necessary corrective effects.
I promised a few minutes ago to say something of the
part that the Government of India have played in the
effort to develop the Industries of this country. As
far back as 1883 the Government of India stated
officially in their Resolution No.185 of the 10th
January that they were "desirous to give the utmost
encouragement to every effort to substitute for
articles now obtained from Europe articles of
bonafide local manufacture, or of indigenous
origin"; and that they would ''always be prepared to
give the preference to the latter where the European
and Indian articles did not differ materially in
price and quality". This I think is clear enough,
from that day to this Government have frequently
reminded its officers of the desirability of
purchasing goods of Indian origin or manufacture
wherever possible. Last year by a Government
Resolution No.1243 - 1252 of the 19th February
(Department of Commerce & Industry) a
Committee was appointed specially to investigate the
question of affording greater encouragement to
Indian industries. This is the Resolution in my hand
now. Paragraph 2 contains the following words:-
“Government fully agree with the view that the
question of the purchase of supplies for the great
consuming Departments of Government is intimately
connected with the wider question of the
encouragement of local industries, and they desire
to afford all reasonable facilities and to offer all
possible encouragement to manufacturers who have
started, or who desire to start, factories in India”
I think you will agree with me that the above facts
show very clearly that Government are second to
nobody in their desire to stimulate the Swadeshi
movement, in this connection I can relate a little
matter from my own experience that will show you a
concrete example of Government's policy. A few years
ago the N. W. State Railway here used to purchase a
considerable portion of its fuel from England. With
the development of the coal industry in Bengal there
arose a cry "Why should Government buy English coal
for its largest railway system when good coal can be
obtained from Bengal? Why not support Indian
industries"? Government so far recognized the force
of this demand that they at once stopped buying
English coal and the N. W. Railway now imports some
300,000 tons of Bengal coal annually from Calcutta
via Karachi. This is only one
example of many 1 cold
give. The
truth is that there is no larger or more practical
supporter of the Swadeshi movement in this country
than the Government of India itself.
So much for the Swadeshi movement in India l now
desire to say a few words regarding another Swadeshi
movement, one which embraces in its scope not only
the trade and industries of this country, but the
commerce of the whole of the British Empire. We have
just heard of the departure to France of a great
statesman who has devoted the most valuable years of
his life to the dissemination of propaganda of
worldwide importance. I am referring of course to
Mr. Chamberlain, may the change of climate quickly
restore his energy and vitality. Mr. Chamberlain's
ideal of a British Empire where in every portion
would derive some material trade advantage from the
fact that it was a portion of the British Empire,
where in the development of agricultural and
manufacturing industries and the building up of
Capital resources would be stimulated to the utmost
by the existence of an Imperial Preferential
Tariff, an Empire wherein the possession of
overwhelming material resources would enable the
maintenance of defensive armaments on land and sea
sufficiently powerful to prevent all possibility of
interference by other Great Powers with the happy
and prosperous British peoples in all parts of the
world, this
ideal, I confess very
strongly appeals to me. Trained, and firmly
believing in the principles of free trade in my
earlier years, a close study of the whole subject, a
certain personal knowledge of other peoples and
other lands, and nearly twenty years of actual
business experience have now convinced me that the
present fiscal policy of the United Kingdom needs
amendment. I do not propose to so far take advantage
of you this evening as to deliver a lengthy address
on the pros and cons of Mr. Chamberlain's proposed
fiscal policy, or of the advantages of Preferential
Trade within the Empire as compared with the present
wholly un-organized condition of our tariff system,
but I may say that i am a firm believer in a
scientifically devised imperial tariff, a tariff the
first object of which would be to stimulate
commercial enterprise within the Empire. This I
consider a Swadeshi movement in which every member
of the British Empire League should be an active
participator. Owing to a succession of good crops
throughout the world, owing to an annual output of
the precious metals far in excess of anything yet
recorded in the world's history, and owing in a
measure to the war in Manchuria now happily at an
end, the trade of Great Britain during the last few
years has been progressing at a phenomenal pace, and
the people of the United Kingdom are correspondingly
pleased with themselves. I fear however, that,
blinded by their own prosperity, many are inclined
to ignore the fact that the same causes which have
contributed to Great Britain's prosperity have also
contributed to an extra ordinary development of the
material resources of other great nations, notably
Germany and the United States of America. The people
of the United Kingdom have never yet found
themselves face to face with nations of greater
capital powers than themselves, and are not
therefore prepared for an attack by overwhelming
masses of cheap capital and all its inevitable
accompaniments. This is the possibility we shall
have to face in the near future. It is essential,
therefore, that we devise means to stimulate the
growth of material wealth within the Empire. This I
submit can be done by means of a Preferential
Tariff. As a matter of Policy, I think the initial
move in this direction would be more likely to meet
a wide acceptance were it introduced in the form of
an Imperial Defense Tax of say five per cent levied
at every port in the British goods on manufactured
or partly manufactured goods of foreign origin to be
extended as expediency permitted to an commodities
of foreign origin. If the manufacturers of Great
Britain, the cotton growers of India and Egypt, and
the wheat farmers of Canada, Australia and the
Punjab slightly benefitted by such a tax at the
expense of their fellow subjects engaged in other
occupations, a very doubtful possibility, such a
result would be easily defensible on the ground: (l)
that producers rather than consumers should be
guarded by the State; (2) that the benefit accrued
not to Britain's rivals but to Britain's most valued
supporters, i.e. British produces; (3) that to
stimulate the growth of population, production, and
wealth within the British
Empire should be one of the foremost aims of every
British Government; (4) that the revenue by an
Imperial -Defense Tax would enable some relief to be
obtained from the crushing load of direct taxation
under which the workers of the united Kingdom at
present stagger; (5) that the money being expended
on imperial defense, no better reason for imperial taxation
could exist; (6) that each portion of the Empire
would feel that bot in trade and politics it was
contributing and receiving certain special
advantages from the fact of it being a
component part of the British Empire; and lastly (7)
that the sentiment and reality of Imperial Unity
would be materially augmented by such a policy.
Here I submit is a Swadeshi movement deserving of
the widest support from every member of the British
Empire.
So far I have only referred to those exhibitions of
public spirit which find expression in efforts to
develop and expand the country's commerce. Swadeshi
movements are, of course, not limited solely to
matters of this nature. Important as the
accumulation of material wealth unquestionably is,
every patriotic member of the Empire desires to see
the benefits and happiness which robust health,
sound social customs, wide knowledge, and a keen
appreciation of the beauties of all the arts and
sciences everywhere confer, extended to the utmost
limit of the Empire's boundaries. There are many
high souled philanthropists who, looking beyond the
limits of the Empire are inspired to devote their
energies to the further elevation of the human race
as a whole irrespective of race or creed, colour or
tongue, or of the artificial boundaries erected in
consequences of political developments of the great
nations of the world, as we see them at the present
day. whilst I feel nothing but admiration for the
workings of these great souls, I cannot help
thinking that we ordinary mortals shall be doing as
much as in us lies, and as much as the present
circumstances of the world demand, if we confine
our energies to the settlement of our more immediate
surroundings within the limits of the Empire itself.
His Majesty the King Emperor holds away over about
one quarter of the land surface of the globe, and
this surely is sufficient scope for the ambition of
the most ardent of imperialist , A determination to
work in the interest of the Empire, an active desire
to better the condition and circumstances of
everything within the Empire, a general striving
after loftier ideals in all branches and departments
of our daily activities, that is the kind of
Swadeshi movement which it is our duty to encourage.
As I
have said on a previous occasion, the aim and end of
all civilization can only be to increase the
possibilities and opportunities for good living
noble living. And it is because we of the British
Empire being Swadeshi to the core firing believe
that British institutions, British social and
political conditions, and British liberty of thought
and action all combine to promote the highest
civilization and the greatest happiness, that we are
anxious to expand those conditions as far as we
possibly can, and develop and bind together the
various peoples, races and nations who at present
constitute the great British Empire. That, I submit,
is this noblest Swadeshi Movement of all (Applause).
MR. CHURCH'S SPEECH.
Amid prolonged applause the Hon'ble Mr. Webb took
his seat and Mr. Crouch rose and expressed pleasure
that Mr. Webb had selected for discussion a subject
which had a special interest for India. The paper,
indeed, was the commencement of an attempt to give
an answer to the question. Why should Indians and
Sindhies join the Imperial Federation League? To
find an answer to this question was an
obvious duty to which the Karachi Branch should
devote itself at an early date. For the questions
involved are of much greater importance. That
is the concern of an Indian or a Sindhi with the
British Empire? Has he any interest in it, has he
any duty towards it? Possibly, the inquiry might
sometimes conduct speakers near the region of
politics; but the atmosphere in Sindh was by no
means volcanic, and the risk of occasionally
trespassing in what was, at the meeting of the
League, forbidden ground might be safely incurred.
Mr. Webb had, in his thorough examination of the
Swadeshi movements, shown that it was only those who
were ignorant of what Government had done, and was
endeavouring to do, who could imagine that a sincere
Swadeshism necessarily included any sentiment of
hostility towards the Empire. Mr. Crouch was
convinced that the time had long passed when the
saying "India is held by the sword", contained the
whole truth. India was already bound to the Empire
by strong ties of mutual interest, and it was
eminently desirable for India's sake that the
growing generation of Indians should be educated to
a full comprehension of this fact.
PROFESSOR SHAHANI'S SPEECH.
In response to the Vice President's enquiry as to
whether any one present had any, remarks to offer on
the subject of Swadeshism, Professor Shahani rose
and said:-
“MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I, as in my
opinion everyone else of the audience have listened
with considerable attention and interest to the able
address on the Swadeshi movement delivered here
tonight by the Hon'ble Mr. Webb. in his
address he has told us, (1) that Swadeshism is very
distinguishable from, and much older than another
movement started in Bengal - the boycott of British
goods (2) that Swadeshism proper has always had the
supporter of the British Government, the Britisher
himself intensely loving his own home and home
industries; 3) that Indian Swadeshism from;
consideration of utility and imperialism might very
well become imperial Swadeshism, to encourage
industries and commerce of all parts of the Empire,
for the effective furtherance of which he would
suggest an imperial tax on articles from countries
outside the Empire. With these his main
propositions, I feel myself in perfect accord.
Swadeshism or Commercial localism in India is really
an old movement, now it is being conducted by
Bengalis on new lines - not of persuasion but of
coercion and lawlessness which, however, provoked,
being in its nature vindictive and bad, could only
be temporary. Again the boycott of merely British
goods means our freedom to purchase other goods,
e.g., of America, China, Japan, which could not help
the Swadeshi movement, it is also true that the
British Government has been sincerely minded to
promote Swadeshism proper. I have always held that
of all empires the British Empire has been the best,
its principle being to afford to its citizens all
opportunity to evoke in them all that is best and
brightest in human mind and spirit. Some of my
friends think this flattery. But I know I say what I
feel. My agricultural work has thrown me into
somewhat intimate contact with officials and I feel
no hesitation in saying although at the cost of
seeming unpatriotic, that I have found British
officials to be very much better than Indian. And
British Government to my mind represents distinctly
higher political ideals than have been evolved by
the political wisdom of India, and means that India
is to be governed in her own interests and not in
those of British or other capitalists. That India
should be governed in her own interests is being now
more and more recognized. The idea has been often
expressed by Viceroys and Secretaries of state for
India; and as often echoed in British Parliaments.
As for the third proposition of Mr. Webb, every
imperial citizen should be glad to see the goods of
other parts of the Empire treated in India with as
much consideration as Indian goods, provided, of
course, those other parts too recognized the
importance for civilization of developing
diversified national industries, and their measures
tended not to stunt Indian industries. Subject to
this proviso, an imperial tax, such as is advocated
by Mr.
Webb, might do well. A reason urged by Mr. Webb in
support of this imperial tax appeared to me to be
not right. He said that the producer needed to be
protected first and the consumer next. In
my opinion, and according to my knowledge of
political economy, the consumer must be protected
first and the producer next. I am, of course, open
to correction; but to me it seems quite as wrong to
measure the gains of a community by the gains of
producers as to measure the benefits from learning
by the salaries of professors. Learning is for the
benefit of learners, not of teachers; and so
production is for consumers and not capitalists.
On the whole, Ladies and Gentlemen, it will be best
to note, that proper and discriminating Swadeshism
is not only not in conflict with imperial politics
but adds to and strengthens the stream of imperial
feeling. It is also noting conflict with economy
laws. She helpful voluntary action on the part of
the consumer to pay for some time high prices is
intended only to ultimately realize that basal
principal of Free Trade - "Produce where the
comparative cost is the least, and consumes where
the relative value is the greatest". It is,
moreover, an ennobling patriotic movement that
teaches self-sacrifice and co-operation. The
movement has already done India much good.
Considering cotton-piece goods, we find India now
manufactures over one third of the quantity she
annually consumes. Over 60 p.c. of the cotton
produced in India is used up by local manufactures.
The cotton spinning and weaving mills in India
number over 200. With these words 1 beg to resume my
seat.
Professor Shahani' s speech was punctuated with
applause throughout.
The Chairman then called upon Mr. Wren to express
his views upon the subject Mr. Wren spoke as
follows:-
MR. WREN'S SPEECH,
MR. CHAIRMAN, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
I am personally a Swadeshi-ist of the deepest dye -
but I would add, an imperialistic patriotic
Swadeshi-ist.
to me there appear to be three kinds of
Swadeshi-ism, the wrong kind; the kind which is
right for the present conditions of the world; and
the ideal kind, whose professors would be the high -
souled but visionary philanthropists to whom the
Hon, Mr. Webb just now referred. The followers of
the first and wrong sort of Swadeshi-ism remind me
of the ancient fable of the Belly and the Members.
The members wished to punish the belly and the hand
and mouth refused to give it food and the result was
the Sickness of the whole body. So is it with the
members of an Empire who act contrarily to the
interests of that Empire. These misguided
Swadeshi-ists who talk of boycott, are a danger of
sickness to the body politic as was the hand to the
"body" of the fable. Their morality is wrong and
their political economy is wrong, for surely it is
axiomatic that men will buy in the cheapest market
and sell in the dearest regardless of artificial
external restraints which must prove ephemeral. The
second kind of Swadeshi-ism, to which I referred, is
that patriotic imperialistic Swadeshi combination,
which is at the present day a necessity for our
welfare. I would always use English, Indian,
Australian, Canadian and other imperial good sin
preference to French, German, Spanish, Chinese or
other foreign goods because I am an imperfect
creature in an imperfect world, whose present
conditions compel each empire, kingdom, and other
entity to be selfish, self-protecting and
self-helping and forbids such folly as internal
dissension and disintegration as is involved in a
"Members vs. Belly" boycotting Swadeshi-ism.
Possibly we may live, but I doubt it, to see the day
when the lion shall lie down with the lamb (not
inside him) and when the Ideal Swadeshi-ism may be
possible when all men in the world may join together
in solemn league and covenant (as school children do
in Bengal) and declare that "We do hereby solemnly
pledge ourselves to use no goods Whatsoever, but
such as are undoubtedly produced in this World,
because we are loving and patriotic sons of this
world.
The Chairman then announced that Professor S.
Shahani had promised a paper at the next meeting on
the 'Production of in Sindh". After a vote of thanks
to the chair the meeting dispersed.
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