Speeches and Writings of Mahatma Gandhi

be divided into the two self-governing British Colonies of Natal and the Cape of Good Hope the Crown Colony or Zululand the Transvaal or the South African Repuolic the Orange Free z4tato the Chartered Territories and the Portuguese Territories comprising Delagoa Bay and Beira."2 THE SOUTH AFRICAN INDIAN QUESTION South Africa is indebted to the Colony of Natal for the presence of the Indian pop [...] In the year 1860 when in the words of a member of the Natal Parliment the existence of the Colony hung in the balance " the Colony of Natal introduced indentured Indians into the Colony. [...] In strict accordance with the policy of degrading the Indian to the level of a raw Kaffir and in the words of the Attorney-General of Natal " that of preventing him from forming part of the future South African"8 THE SOUTH AFLUUAN INDIAN yUESTION nation that is going to be built the Natal Government last year introduced their Bill to amend the Indian Immigration Law which I regret to inform yo [...] A Commission consisting of two members was sent to India in 189:3 by the Natal Government to induce the Indian Government to agree to the above alterati ma with the exception of the imposition of the poll.tax. [...] The fighting reserve which Great Britain has in the Indian races adds greatly to her political influence and prestige and it would be violation of the British sense of justice to use the blood and the valour of these races in war and yet to deny them the protection of the British name in the enterprise of peace.