[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]
SIR,—To-day there is grave risk that India may be sacrificed to the clamour of the extremists. Dangerous talk of immediate " Dominion status " is current. Even in high places a tendency exists almost to ignore the Report of the Simon Commission with all its great authority. An effort is also being made to lead public opinion at home to some point far in advance of the Report which, with its sympathetic attitude towards self-government, must be regarded as the basis of any discussions which may take place at the Conference.
A policy of surrender would lead, probably, to the total loss of India ; and certainly to chaos, which would be a disaster not to India alone, but also to this and other countries. British trade with India must suffer, and with it every man and woman worker. British investments in India would probably follow British investments in Russia. These are inevitable results if India is handed over to its extremist politicians, and the commercial fabric of this country would be shaken to its foundations. The consequences to the Indian mil.lions would be even more disastrous.
A peaceful and prosperous India is vitally es sential to this country and to India itself. India is our best ...,ustomer in the world. No commercial nation like Great Britirin can lose such a customer without paying a terrible price for it ; and the price would have to be paid by the banks, the shipping companies,
our industries as a whole, our salaried officials and our wage- earning classes. It is not too much to say that no one would escape. The working classes of India would suffer even more.
The prevention of these disasters is, therefore, everyone's concern. The Indian Empire Society has been established to inform and focus public opinion in this country on the realities of the situation in India and the danger of concessions to violence, and, at the same time, to take resolute action in every quarter possible to safeguard British and Indian interests.
A substantial fund is urgently required if the Society is to carry through its task. Donations should be sent to the Secretary, Sir Mark Hunter, 12 Ashburn Gardens, London, S.W. 7, who will be pleased to supply full information as to the aims of the Society and particulars of membership.—We are, Sir, &c.,
(Signed) SC MEER, SYDENIIAM OF COMBE, REGINALD CRADDOCK, C. W. C. OMAN, M. F. O'DWYER, CLAUD W. JACOB.
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