OCCASIONAL NOTE
Sir Edward Grey's statement in regard to the Anglo-Russian "naval
agreement" which has been mooted in some not very well-informed quarters
bears out what has been maintained in the columns of The Statesman. A
root principle of British policy, now as in the days of Bismarck, is the
avoidance of any written agreement except when a definite and immediate
end is in view. The obligations incurred by Great Britain to co-operate
with other Powers in the use of armed force could be numbered on the
fingers of one hand; and of these those guaranteeing the integrity of
Portugal and Belgium date back respectively seven hundred years and over
seventy years. The essence of the system of balance of power is the
maintenance of friendly and even intimate relations with Powers which
might need the assistance of Great Britain in the hour of crisis. But
these friendly relations are never reduced to written agreement in so
far as concerns future armed co-operation. It is indeed obvious
that any general undertaking to co-operate in the naval sphere with
Russia-and the same would be true of a general undertaking of any kind
in the case of France-would limit Great Britain's freedom and militate
against the prime object of her policy.
AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS
Strange Story Re-Called
A peculiar incident which occurred at Howrah during the celebration of
the Mohurrum of December, 1911, has just been re-called by the arrest of
a man named Amulya Charan Das at Matiabruz on Monday.
It is alleged that the accused when living in the Golmaree quarter of
Howrah professed to be a sadhu who could by a certain form of worship,
double any article. During the progress of the Mohurrum the accused is
alleged to have induced three women to part with their ornaments in
order that their number might be doubled. The accused having obtained
the ornaments was seen worshipping in his room by another man. On
observing the latter, the sadhu asked him to go and fetch some oil from
his room. The man went as directed and on his return found that the
sadhu had disappeared. On Monday last Nobin Chunder Bairagi recognised
the alleged accused as he was passing Matiabruz thana. The man was at
once arrested and the case is at present under enquiry.
HEAVY FLOODS IN ASSAM
Water Seven Feet Deep Exciting Rescues
(From Our Correspondent)
Sylhet, June 16
Intimation reached here, today, that owing to excessive rainfall in the
hills to the northern side of Sunamganj sub-division, valleys have been
suddenly submerged under water 7 feet deep in 24 hours. It is stated
that about 15 hill-men were rescued while drifting with the floods. The
extent of the damage has not yet been fully reported. The Deputy
Commissioner has deputed a Sub-Deputy Collector to the affected
locality. The downpour still continues. The sub-divisional town is
likely to be under water soon.
GAUHATI EXTENSION LINE BREACHED
Interruption Of Traffic To Shillong
The Traffic Manager of the Eastern Bengal State Railway states that
serious breaches have occurred on the Gauhati extension, between
Basugdon and Bongaigaon, rendering transhipment for three and a half
miles extremely difficult and passengers may not be able to get through.
All passengers for Shillong and stations beyond Basugdon will be well
advised to postpone their journey. No information can be obtained at
present as to when the line is likely to be repaired. The breaches have
been caused by heavy floods.
