"The disruptive effect of these ideals is accentuated by
prevailing conditions. The prices of food are exceedingly high,
supplies are scanty, while efforts to control prices are hampered
by the profiteering and trade trickery unfortunately never absent
from this country. [As if it was absent from other countries.]
"India having been swept bare of foodstuffs, to meet the
exigencies of the war, the people feel that the home Government is
lukewarm in releasing supplies from outside, and resent
particularly that the Shipping Controller is maintaining high
freights on fat and rice from Burma. These severe sufferings are
superimposed on the devastating influenza and cholera epidemics.
So much for the social and economic situation.
"Then the activities of the Indo-British Association created grave
doubts whether Parliament will deal fairly with India when the
reform scheme is considered. The Rowlatt Act was precipitated into
this surcharged atmosphere.
"The Act was wickedly perverted by the Extremists until among the
common people it became the general belief that it gave plenary
powers to a police which was feared and distrusted. Among educated
people, few of whom studied the report or the Act, it was bitterly
resented as a badge of India's subjection after loyal
participation in the war, at a time when the strongest feeling in
the country was craving for its self-respect in the eyes of the
nations. Further, it was regarded as prejudicing the cause of
political reform.
"Another powerful contributory cause was the ferment amongst the
Moslem community. Everywhere the Moslems believe that the Peace
Conference is bent on the destruction of Islam. There is no
confidence in British protection after our declared policy in
regard to Turkey and the undoing of the settled fact in Eastern
Bengal in 1911.
"This feeling is the more dangerous because it is inchoate. Moslem
officers returned from Palestine and Arabia, and acquainted with
the realities of Turkish rule, have expressed astonishment at the
strength of this feeling among their co-religionists here.
Mohamedans have been foremost in the work of riot and destruction
in Ahmedabad and Delhi, and the lower elements were ripe for
trouble in Bombay. I am unable to say how far this ferment
affected the outbreaks in the Punjab.
"This seething Moslem unrest is the most menacing feature of
Indian politics to-day. It explains the unprecedented admission of
Hindus to the Mosques of Delhi and Aligarh....