The Transvaal White League – Mahatma Gandhi

[Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav]

Prof. Dr. Yogendra Yadav

Senior Gandhian Scholar, Professor, Editor and Linguist

Gandhi International Study and Research Institute, Jalgaon, Maharashtra, India

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The Transvaal White League – Mahatma Gandhi

 

In another column we publish the prospectus of the Transvaal White League, formed in Pietersburg. The objects are to make a united stand by all the white inhabitants of this country against the Asiatics, to promote legislation to regulate and control the issue and renewal of licences to Asiatic traders and to force them to vacate the towns and country districts and to reside and trade in bazaars specially set aside for them. The other three objects are intended to further the two we have just quoted.

The League, except making a blustering noise, will be simply beating the air, because there is no influx of Asiatics into the country unless, of course, it would bestir itself towards preventing the entry of thousands of Chinese indentured slaves who are flooding the country; for the free immigration of Asiatics, British and otherwise, has been effectually prevented by Lord Milner, even to the extent of stopping the entry of those who have paid to the old Government the sum of £3 as the price of being allowed to remain in the Colony. As to the regulation and control of the licences, the British Indian Association has offered it to them. And as to forcing the Asiatics to vacate the towns and country districts and to reside in Bazaars, we could hardly conceive that it is seriously required, if the gentlemen can get full control of the licences. It is worthy of note that on the League is represented very prominently the Town Council of Pietersburg. Side by side with this establishment of the Transvaal White League, preparations, so the Johannesburg papers say, are now being made to canvass signatures to the Petition, which emanated from the Potchefstroom Vigilance Association, and it has already appeared in this paper. Supposing that it is signed by every adult European male in the Transvaal, would it make the proposal for confiscation and it is nothing else-legal or justifiable? Or would it be the clear duty of His Majesty’s Government, in spite of the Petition, to protect the vested interests and rights of the British Indians? 

In sharp contrast to the above, one finds a perusal of the almost unanimous opinion expressed by the English Press on the Blue book very refreshing. To take away from them the right they enjoyed under the Kruger regime, of trading outside locations, would be to stultify ourselves in the eyes of the world, and to sanction an act of injustice to men who are as entitled as are the white inhabitants of the Transvaal to equitable treatment at the hands of the Imperial Government. Thus says the conservative Morning Post, and adds that the adoption of Lord Milner’s proposal would furnish just cause for resentment among the three hundred millions of His Majesty’s Indian subjects, whose rights and feelings cannot be ignored. The Times is no less emphatic. It shews, therefore, that outside, unbiased opinion is absolutely on the side of the British Indian. There are, indeed, very few instances in which the weight of authority has been thrown so forcibly against the cause, and yet its justice has remained supreme.  

 

Reference:

 

Indian Opinion, 1-10-1904