Terrorism in India A sinister sidelight on the problems before
the Round Table Conference was cast by Lord Lothian's speech in the House of Lords on Tuesday on terrorism in India. No one will suspect the new Under-Secretary of any lack of sympathy with Indian aspirations. Ho has, in fact, been working unceasingly in the Conference for a reasonable settlement such as the mass of Indian opinion could accept, but his description of the situation in India, and Bengal in particular, and his denunciation of the terrorism designed to make self-government or any other form of government impossible was couched in language strong enough to satisfy even Lord Brentford, who initiated the debate. The Government propose to exercise, and are amply justified in exercising, excep- tional powers in Bengal. Freedom of the Press is a principle to be defended almost when it seems past defence. But in parts of India it is past defence altogether, and the responsible editor who instigates unbalanced students to murder deserves even heavier punishment than the criminal himself. Sir John Anderson, the newly-appointed Governor of Bengal, will have as heavy responsibilities on his shoulders as any man in the Empire, but he has had some experience in Ireland of coping with defiance of the law and he will carry the confidence as well as the good will of his countrymen with him to India.
