The Fiji-Indian Problem
p. 71 · Read in the full issue
Former Colonial Governor Offers A Drastic Solution
MUCH interest is taken in other countries in the development of the Indian problem in Fiji.
Comment is usually sympathetic to the young Indians born in Fiji, who are to make their home there. But all observers resent, with varying degrees of fierceness, the suggestion that native Fijians should be dispossessed in any degree of their birthright by Indians who seek to place first the interests of old India. It is ap parent that any official move —either directly, or through the weak-kneed Socialist Government now in command of the British Empire—to transfer Fiji from British to Indian control, will arouse a storm of angry protest in what may be called neutral countries.
Here are a couple of typical letters:— POM a resident of a Middle East country (public servant): “The ex cuse made by the Indians for not enlisting in 1941-42 (one is prepared to waive 1939-40) is that of differential pay ment.
“If you could get in touch with a source familiar with the circumstances in the local forces about 1935-36, when the crisis developed with Italy over Abyssinia, you would find that numbers of Indians re signed from the forces through fear that we should have to go to war.
“As for Indian trading practices, I sug gest you look at the ‘Crown Colonist’ of May, at an article describing the be haviour of Indians in East Africa. You probably will find them identical with conditions in Fiji.”
FROM a resident of California (wellknown author and journalist): “When I was in Fiji in 1927, I could see this Indian threat developing, and I wrote numerous articles about it. When I returned in 1938, coming up from New Zealand, I was amazed and sickened at the way the Indians had pushed the Fijians into the background in Suva. Be cause of this I cancelled my contemplated stay in Fiji and went on to Samoa.
“I had just come from South and East Africa, and I had had just as much as I could stand of Indian arrogance and ag gressiveness . . . The recent race riots in Durban were fully justified, in my opinion; and one wonders how long it will be before similar action is taken by the Fijians. I should not want to be around if ever those giants from the hills go on the warpath with their iron wood clubs!”
FROM a resident of England (retired Governor): “It is hard to see any solution for your Indian problem in Fiji. But you will achieve nothing simply by cursing the Indians, just as you cannot get rid of snakes merely by calling mal edictions upon them.
“We took the Indians to Fiji, in the first place; they now have provided Fiji with a hard core of industry and trade which makes that country probably our most prosperous Colony; and now they are our responsibility.
“I would not consider anything so ab surd as the deportation of the Indians, but I would fix a date for the absolute cessation of all immigration from India; and, after that, I should set to work to break all cultural and, as far as possible, all economic relations between Fiji and India. I would not immediately ban the Indian language, but I should insist that English be taught—and properly taught— in every Indian school.
“The purpose of this would be to make the coming generation of Indians more Fiji-minded than India-minded. Then, it would be up to the Fijians themselves. If, on the basic qualities of citizenship, they could not stand up to the Fiji-born Indian, then they would have to take second place.
Personally, I have not the least doubt that the Fijian would hold his own quite well and the two races would go on happily together.
“But, if the Fijian is to have a chance, we must irrevocably, and soon, break this connection between India and the Indian community in Fiji. There would be a fearful howl from official India, of course, but any Indian who did not like the new arrangement would have complete liberty to leave Fiji and live in India.”