PLEDGES BROKEN

After the forgoing was printed the long-expected peace terms regarding Turkey were received.  In my humble opinion they are humiliating to the Supreme Council, to the British ministers, and if as a Hindu with deep reverence for Christianity I may say so, a denial of Christ’s teachings.  Turkey broken down and torn with dissentions within may submit to the arrogant disposal of herself, and Indian Mahomedans may out of fear do likewise.  Hindus out of fear, apathy or want of appreciation of the situation, may refuse to help their Mahomedan brethren in their hour of peril.  The fact remains that a solemn promise of the Prime Minister of England has been wantonly broken.  I will say nothing about President Wilson’s fourteen points, for they seem now to be entirely forgotten as a day’s wonder.  It is a matter of deep sorrow that the Government of India communique offers a defence of the terms, calls them a fulfilment of Mr. Lloyd George’s pledge of 5th January 1918 and yet apologises for their defective nature and appeals to the Mahomedans of India as if to mock them that they would accept the terms with quiet resignation.  The mask that veils the hypocrisy is too thin to deceive anybody.  It would have been dignified if the communique had boldly admitted Mr. Lloyd George’s mistake in having made the promise referred to.  As it is, the claim of fulfilment of the promise only adds to the irritation caused by its glaring breach.  What is the use of the Viceroy saying, “The question of the Khilafat is one for the Mahomedans and Mahomedans only and that with their free choice in the matter Government have no desire to interfere,” while the Khalif’s dominions are ruthlessly dismembered, his control of the Holy places of Islam shamelessly taken away from him and he himself reduced to utter impotence in his own palace which can no longer be called a palace but which can he more fitly described us a prison?  No wonder, His Excellency fears that the peace includes “terms which must be painful to all Moslems.”  Why should he insult Muslim intelligence by sending the Mussalmans of India a of encouragement and sympathy?  Are they expected to find encouragement in the cruel recital of the arrogant terms or in a remembrance of ‘the splendid response’ made by them to the call of the King ‘in the day of the Empire’s need.’  It ill becomes His Excellency to talk of the triumph of those ideals of justice and humanity for which the Allies fought.  Indeed, the terms of the so called peace with Turkey if they are to last, will be a monument of human arrogance and man-made injustice.  To attempt to crush the spirit of a brave and gallant race, because it has lost in the fortunes of war, is a triumph not of humanity but a demonstration of inhumanity.  And if Turkey enjoyed the closest ties of friendship with Great Britain before the war, Great Britain has certainly made ample reparation