contribution to the League of Nations should be considered in the light of grievances of Indians in the mandated territory of Tanganyika and ex-German islands in the Pacific Ocean. A resolution was carried recommending further representations to the British Government regarding claims advanced by Indian residents in Kenya in respect of franchise, immigration, segregation, the Uplands, and similar matters. This Resolution was followed by the passing of Dr. Gour's Immigration into India Bill, designed to regulate the entry into and residence in British India of persons domiciled in other British possessions. The release of Mr. Gandhi and other non-co-operators was urged in debate. Sir Malcolm Hailey, on behalf of the Government, felt himself unable to agree to releasing these prisoners, and the motion was lost. With regard to the Public Services Commission it was sought to provide that no alteration in the pay, pension, or other service conditions of Imperial Indian Services should be made before giving the Indian Legislature an opportunity for an expression of its opinion, and that before any action on the recommendation of the Royal Commission is taken an opportunity should also be given to the House to express its views thereon. The policy of the Government in undertaking a present or contingent liability to the Imperial Bank for losses consequent upon the failure of the Alliance Bank of Simla was criticised. A considerable amount of important legislative business was transacted. A Bill to amend the Indian Stamp Act, the principal object of which was to raise the stamp duty on promissory notes payable on demand, was passed. The Paper Currency Act of 1923 was amended by an Act designed to reduce the working costs of the mints by obviating the necessity of re-coinage of withdrawn coin at a time when the stock of silver coin is large, and to increase from 5 to 12 crores of rupees the amount of emergency currency which may be issued against Bills of Exchange. The object of the latter provision was to provide additional currency at times when the trade demand is greater than usual. A Bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to legal practitioners, the primary object being the creation of an Indian Bar and the abolition of distinction between various branches of the profession, was introduced. The close of the Session marked a stage in the gradual development of self-governing institutions in the Indian Administration, as it was the last day of the last Session of the First Legislative Assembly constituted under the Government of India Act. Thereafter, elections for the new Assembly were held, at which Swarajist candidates, who aim at the establishment of full responsible government for India, were successful in obtaining 50 seats out of a total of 145. In the Provinces, outside the Central Provinces, the Swarajists nowhere obtained majorities sufficient to achieve their end of "mending or ending the expenditure were real and substantial, covered the whole field of military expenditure, and provided for a considerable reduction in the number of fighting troops, both Indian and British. giving his concurrence to the cuts he had been primarily influenced by the paramount need of balancing the Budget, but the reductions would leave the fundamental organisation of the Army practically unimpaired. When the demands for grants were discussed, motions for reduction in many items were made, of which some were carried to the extent of Rs. 1,76,10,001. Of these cuts, Rs. 1,14,00,000 under Railways and Rs. 3,00,000 under Miscellaneous, were restored by the Governor-General in Council. When the Finance Bill came up for discussion, the Assembly failed to secure a formula which would cover the deficit by a form of taxation acceptable to the House. The proposed enhancement of the salt tax was rejected, but was restored under the certifying power of the Governor-General. The most important Bills passed during the Session were: Criminal Procedure Code (Amendment) Bill, the Criminal Law Amendment Bill, 1923, popularly known as the Racial Distinctions Act, the Workmen's Compensation Bill, the Mines Bill, (which provided for the progressive and definite prohibition of employment of children in mines, and for the limiting of the hours of work in a mine to 60 hours above ground and to 54 hours below ground per week, and also prescribed a weekly holiday), the Cantonments Bill, and the Traffic in Women and Children Bill. In view of the imminent elections to the Assembly the Simla session commenced in July, instead of September, as in former years. On July 9 the Commander-in-Chief made an important announcement that except for the reduction of one cavalry regiment, which was still under consideration, His Majesty's Government had agreed to all the reductions of troops recommended by the Government of India on the advice of the Inchcape Committee and himself. Questions relating to the Constitution again engaged a good deal of attention, especially the Governor-General's emergency powers of certification under sec. 67B of the Government of India Act, which had been invoked during the previous session. It was sought to restrict the powers of the Council of State by providing that it should have no power to deal with money Bills. This motion, and one to relax the control of the Secretary of State over the Government of India and to expand the powers of Ministers, were lost. Other matters of constitutional importance discussed were the Secretary of State's powers in matters of purely Indian interest where the Government of India and the Indian Legislature are in agreement, and the procedure to be followed when the apportionment of financial liabilities may be in dispute between the Government of India and His Majesty's Government. The question of Indians overseas was particularly in the forefront, one suggestion being that the Government of India's contribution to the League of Nations should be considered in the light of grievances of Indians in the mandated territory of Tanganyika and ex-German islands in the Pacific Ocean. A resolution was carried recommending further representations to the British Government regarding claims advanced by Indian residents in Kenya in respect of franchise, immigration, segregation, the Uplands, and similar matters. This Resolution was followed by the passing of Dr. Gour's Immigration into India Bill, designed to regulate the entry into and residence in British India of persons domiciled in other British possessions. The release of Mr. Gandhi and other non-co-operators was urged in debate. Sir Malcolm Hailey, on behalf of the Government, felt himself unable to agree to releasing these prisoners, and the motion was lost. With regard to the Public Services Commission it was sought to provide that no alteration in the pay, pension, or other service conditions of Imperial Indian Services should be made before giving the Indian Legislature an opportunity for an expression of its opinion, and that before any action on the recommendation of the Royal Commission is taken an opportunity should also be given to the House to express its views thereon. The policy of the Government in undertaking a present or contingent liability to the Imperial Bank for losses consequent upon the failure of the Alliance Bank of Simla was criticised. A considerable amount of important legislative business was transacted. A Bill to amend the Indian Stamp Act, the principal object of which was to raise the stamp duty on promissory notes payable on demand, was passed. The Paper Currency Act of 1923 was amended by an Act designed to reduce the working costs of the mints by obviating the necessity of re-coinage of withdrawn coin at a time when the stock of silver coin is large, and to increase from 5 to 12 crores of rupees the amount of emergency currency which may be issued against Bills of Exchange. The object of the latter provision was to provide additional currency at times when the trade demand is greater than usual. A Bill to consolidate and amend the law relating to legal practitioners, the primary object being the creation of an Indian Bar and the abolition of distinction between various branches of the profession, was introduced. The close of the Session marked a stage in the gradual development of self-governing institutions in the Indian Administration, as it was the last day of the last Session of the First Legislative Assembly constituted under the Government of India Act. Thereafter, elections for the new Assembly were held, at which Swarajist candidates, who aim at the establishment of full responsible government for India, were successful in obtaining 50 seats out of a total of 145. In the Provinces, outside the Central Provinces, the Swarajists nowhere obtained majorities sufficient to achieve their end of "mending or ending the Councils." In the Central Provinces, of the members filling the 54 elective seats, 50 are classed as Swarajists and they will be in a clear majority in the Council which numbers 69 in all. In Bengal, their full strength is 49 out of an elected membership of 113 and a total council of 139. On the frontier outlaw gangs were active. Majors Orr and Anderson, of the Seaforth Highlanders, were murdered near Landi Kotal on April 9. Mrs. Ellis, wife of Major J. V. Ellis, of the Border Regiment was killed at Kohat, and her daughter kidnapped. Captain Watts, of the Kurram Militia, and Mrs. Watts were murdered at Parachinar on November 8. The supposed murderers of Majors Orr and Anderson were arrested by the Afghan Government at the request of the Government of India and were to have been tried by Islamic law, but on August 29 they escaped from Kabul gaol. A new Treaty between the British and Nepal Governments relating to commercial intercourse between British India and Nepal was concluded, the British Government agreeing to grant, in respect of all trade goods intended for immediate transmission to Khatmandu, the capital of Nepal, a rebate of the duty paid. CHAPTER VIII. THE FAR EAST: CHINA-JAPAN-THE DUTCH EAST INDIES. CHINA. DURING 1923, as in the ten previous years, China has continued to be a house divided against itself. Neither the northern nor the southern faction has been able to extend its authority over the whole country. The northern militarists, represented by Marshals Tsao Kun and Wu Pei-fu, still believe that the South will come automatically under their rule if only they control the mountain passes in the provinces of Szechuan and Hunan. In response, the southern militarists, represented by Dr. Sun Yat-sen, aim at occupying the Province of Kiangsi at any cost so as to launch flank movements against the northern expeditionary force, and at the same time penetrate into the lower part of the Yangtze now in the hands of the North. Marshal Wu Pei-fu has made various moves against the South, but he has always been hampered by the rivalry of one or more of his colleagues who, jealous of his ascendancy, have tried to overthrow him, and in consequence much of his time and energy was spent in dealing with them, though his struggles against Marshal Tuan Chi-jui in 1920 and against Marshal Chang Tsolin in 1922 were not repeated. Equally the southern leader is less occupied with attacks against the North than in securing himself against his former colleague, General Chen Chung-min, who commands a large number of troops in the neighbourhood of his headquarters. A tendency is, however, developing for the several factions to line themselves into two hostile camps by formal agreement, so that the North will have a collaborator in General Chen Chung-min in the South and the South collaborators in Marshals Tuan Chi-jui and Chang Tso-lin in the North. This combination, if effected, will make it possible for a decisive issue to be reached between the two parties. Repeated efforts were made during the year to oust Sun Yatsen from the Kwangtung Province, but without success. In February his partisans regained Canton from his opponent, Chen Chung-min, and he returned to that city, which he succeeded in retaining throughout the year. In April he was strongly attacked by Shen-Hung-ying, who had been nominated Governor of Kwangtung on the recommendation of Wu Pei-fu, but he held his own, and beat off the invader. In December he was attacked by his old opponent, Chen Chung-min, at the instigation, it was believed, of Wu Pei-fu, but again held his own. Being very short of money, and unable to extort any more from the traders of Canton, he made a move to seize the Customs revenues in that city, which are all practically hypothecated for the payment of foreign Loans, and this brought British and French warships on the scene. The Government in Peking may be no more representative of China than that in Canton, but as it occupies the historical seat of Government and remains the only de facto Government recognised by the Powers, it is still considered the supreme authority in the land. On January 1, 1923, President Li Yuanhung issued a circular telegram to military governors, deploring the ceaseless warfare and asking them to meet at a conference to discuss means of composing their differences and disbanding their mercenary troops. They all accepted his invitation, but refused to desist in any way from their military preparations. Marshal Wu Pei-fu demanded from the Government the appointment of two of his nominees as Governors of the Provinces of Kwangtung and Tukien. The Prime Minister, Chang-Shaotseng, objected, and accordingly he was turned out of office (March 8). He soon, however, made his submission, and was allowed to resume office on March 20 on the understanding that he would authorise and finance military expeditions against Kwangtung, Szechuan, and Hunan. This brought him into conflict with Parliament. A vote of no-confidence was passed by the Upper House and referred to a committee by the Lower House. The President, although prohibited by the Provisional Constitution from taking any action for or against the Cabinet, was on this occasion on the side of Parliament. On March 10 the Government addressed a Note to Japan declaring the Chino-Japanese Treaties of 1915 to be abrogated, and requesting Japan to name a day to discuss with China the retrocession of Port Arthur and the Kwangtung_territory and other questions arising out of the abrogation. The Japanese Government replied that the attempt on China's part to abrogate |