As in the case of the plague in Bombay, perusal of our Indian files would strengthen the suspicion of a conspiracy of silence as to the gravity of the scarcity which was being felt in India. Some papers describe it as the "impending" famine, others as an existing calamity, whilst there is not a little official optimism und, on the other side, partisan damon ing, making it all the more dificult to arrive at the true state of affairs. The Statesman has a long and very outspoken article criticising Lord Elgin's attitude in rogand to the famine the Central Provinces, advocating immediate importation of grain on a large scale by Government. "The Government," it says, that does not strain every nerve to keep people alive in time of famine abnegates its first functions as a civilised Government, and deserves to be held in universal execration. Especially in India, where the State is the great landlord of the soil, the responsibility of saving people from dying of hunger is one of which the Government cannot divest itself; yet what is Government doing to provide against the famine looming like a shroud over the people? Instead of arranging for importing food on an adequate scale, the limits of its statesmanship is reached when it has ordered a shipload of horse carrot seed for the starving people. Lord Elgin blandly assures the Home authorities that there is no need what-reliable than anything which the Government can command, and it controls the only machinery by which the needs of the country can be supplied. The Governor-General in Council believes that the intervention of Government as a purchaser or importer would do inGnitely more harm than good, as it would cripple and discourage the agency which is best able to gauge the need, which is impelled by self-interest to anticipate it, and which alone is able to supply it' effectively. The functions of Government in the matter should, therefore, be confined to three directions. It should, in the first instance, place freely, fully, and promptly at the disposal of the public all the information of which it is in possession, 50 as to assist the mercantile community as far as possible in verifying the facts upon which their action must depend. Svcondly, it must istressed tracts shall be an. effective rentee that the demand for food in the
demand. The fact that there are hungry men in a district is not in itself sufficient to induce a flow of food towards that district in the ordinary course of trade. There must be also be money available with which the hungry may pay for it, and this guarantee Government provides by undertaking (as it does) to find work for all who are in danger of starvation, and to pay -them at rates which will suffice to buy them a subsistence ration at whatever prices may from time to time be locally current. In the third place it should, to use the words of the Famine Commissioners, take care that every possible facility is given for the free action of private trade in the business of the supply and distribution of food, and that all obstacles, material or fiscal, are, as far as practicable, removed." letter goes on to lay down that in makin, purchases of. grain of the kind sugges they should be strictly local, and says in the present application the Governor-General in Council finds no such limitations. The proposal is rather in the nature of a blank cheque presented for his signature, The object appears to be not only to throw supplies into certain tracks but also to secure importation of food-grains from outside India. It is true that the proposal is not that Government should import direct but only that it should finance scheme for importation, and that certain precautions such as the charging of interest and (in another reference) restriction upon ever for help in the shape of public sub- underselling are taken against interference scriptions, as the Government of India is with private trade.
His Excellency in quite able to cope with the trifling distress Council doubts whether these conditions that exists. Was ever such fatuous counsel would not either be evaded in practice heard from the lips of a responsible ruler? or be found so vexatious as to defeat By end by money will be of no use. When their own objects, but he is clearly of the food stocks of the country are exhausted, opinion that the scheme could not be money will merely mock people's sufferings. carried into effect without involving such The Government will then begin to think interference, or at any rate without of importing grain, but they may save bearing the appearance and creating the themselves the trouble; during the months apprehension of such interference, and the that must elapse before it can be brought appearance in such a case would be almost to people's doors, the Central and North-worse than the reality, since, while pro-West Provinces will be converted into ducing all its evils, it would carry with it huge graveyard." none of its advantages. It is of cardinal {his article is called forth by a reply to importance that no action of a general the proposal of the Bengal Government nature should be taken which might in any that Government should advance money, way tend to throw doubt upon the stead-at interest, for purchase in Calcutta of fastness with which the Government of grain imported from over the sea and for India adhere to the policy of non-interven-its distribution in remote areas. Mr. tion, or to inspire mistrust and uncertainty Denzil Ibhetson, Secretary to the Govern-in the minds of the mercantile community. ment of India,' in his reply proceeds to For these reasons the Governor-General review the situation, and says it is conceive in Council finds. himself unable to accede able that the food supply of the country as to the proposals of the Bengal Government. a whole may be insufficient, and that it He differs from its opinion with reluctance, may be necessary to supplement it from for he heartily recognises the admirable abroad. The letter pi 2" But while fully ising the importance of pro itude and thoroughness with which the question and gravity of the situation is Honour the Lieutenant-Governor has examined and met the situation in. the Government of India are of the deliber But his Excellency in Council is satisfied rate and decided opinion that they will best thet the need for interference in the serve the end that all have in view by localities to which the proposals rigidly abstaining from interference, The refer is not established; that should it be mercantile community has at its disposal established it can be met in a very much sources of information regarding stocks and simpler manner, and that the adoption of demand that is more complete and more the principal of these proposals in this limited area might, by unsettling the operations of trade, imperil the food supply of the entire province if not. indeed of every affected region of India.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.