OCCASIONAL NOTE

Nothing is calculated to irritate British sentiment so much as any suggestion that the ex-Kaiser may escape the drastic penalty due for his crimes. Even if there are others as guilty as he, there can be no one who is more guilty, and if he is not punished, there is neither logic nor justice in the punishment of anybody. At the same time, reports of dissensions between France and England on the one hand, and America on the other, as to whether this arch-criminal should be brought to justice should be received with caution. It is unthinkable that the head of the greatest Republic in the world should be more concerned for the personal immunity of a criminal despot than the representatives of the French Republic, and of the British limited Monarchy. If President Wilson differs from his colleagues in the Council of Four it is more likely to be on questions of procedure, or possibly he may be reluctant that America should take part in the trial, preferring that France and Great Britain should deal with the criminal on their own responsibility. Possibly, too, he is influenced by the attitude of Holland, and is reluctant to join in the pressure, or even combined operations, which in view of that attitude may be necessary before the fugitive is given up to his judges. In any case, there is nothing to be gained by suggesting that the great statesmen representing the three foremost democracies in the world are at loggerheads, especially when, as Mr. Lloyd George reminds us, their labours are almost completed, and the results may be made public at any time.

EUROPEAN CHARGED WITH DACOITY

At the Allahabad High Court Criminal sessions, before Mr. Justice Walsh and a jury, the trial commenced today of G.H. Maclarron, a European, formerly a lieutenant in the I.A.R.O., and three Mahomedans, who are charged with committing dacoity in the house of Pershadi, a cultivator in the Temar district, Jubbulpore. Accused, who are defended by Messrs. Sorabji, Russe and Sailanath Mukerjee, pleaded not guilty. The complainant deposed that on the night of the occurrence he heard a loud knocking at the door, and someone outside shouted to him to keep quiet and open the door. Pershadi ran off to inform the police and on his return found his doors smashed in and his box broken open. He had been robbed of sovereigns and one hundred rupees in cash, and silver ornaments of the value of about Rs 200. The case is proceeding.

MAHOMEDANS IN BURMA

Replying to an address presented by the Mahomedans of Akyab, the Lieutenant- Governor said that special preference to Musalman candidates for Government service in Arakan could be considered if it was shown that qualified candidates were unable to obtain a reasonable share of appointments because of racial or religious discrimination against them. The appointment of a Mahomedan Deputy Inspector of Schools to the Divisional Education Board would be considered. The demand for a Mahomedan representative from Arakan on the Legislative Council had to be considered in connection with the general scheme of reforms now engaging the consideration of the Government. The demand was opposed to that of the body of Mahomedan opinion in Rangoon, which had expressed itself against the necessity for the communal representation of Indians in Burma. His Honour thanked all communities for the very warm and friendly reception given him.

MINER M.P. AND HIS UNION

Mr. James Walton, M.P. for the Don Valley Division, speaking at Thorne (South Yorkshire) said that for attaching his name to a circular of the National Democratic Party urging the miners not to strike he was to be struck off the members’ roll of the Yorkshire Miners’ Association under a rule which specified that members must work in or about a mine. “I have been a member for thirty-five years,” he said “and I will not relinquish my membership without a struggle. If they strike me off because of my membership of the House of Commons they will have to do the same with five other members they have sent to Parliament. If the Association persists in its attitude I have sufficient grit to do five days of the week at Westminster and the sixth day underground at the Manver’s colliery in order to retain membership.”

DISASTROUS FIRES IN BURMA

Two serious fires occurred on Monday. The first, which broke out in the afternoon at Yenangyaung, destroyed over a hundred houses. The fire originated in a small house in which an old woman was cooking some food. The civil hospital adjoining the scene of the fire was saved. Some 300 persons were rendered homeless. The second fire occurred at night, when about thirty houses in Nyaunghla village were reduced to ashes.