The Nehru Report and Muslim Rights — Page 50
I 50 l persuade myself to think for a moment that Britain will incur national loss for the sake of another party. Every sensible man can well understand that the ties that bind Britain and the Dominions together are those of senti ments, and no worldly force unites them. A Dominion has its own army, its own navy, its own administration, there being only a solitary Governor coming from Great Britain who also is a mere figure-head. And further, when the Dominions have the right to break away from Britain at any time they choose, how is it possible that Great Britain will offend, for the sake of a minority, a powerful Dominion -. . vhich is the star of its diadem. Britain· s justice is limited by her national interests. When her national interests are at stake, Great Britain will not decide its policy on the merits of the case, but from the imperial viewpoint. It must not be forgotten that no one will befriend a minority unless there is some thing material to �be gained. A minority must trust to itself to safeguard its interests. In support of my con tention that the minorities are faced with utmost difficulty in obtaining justice for th <:; mselves, I would quote the views of one, who is at present the greatest authority on the subject. I mean Prof. Gilbert Murray, who accom panied the British Delegation to the Peace Conference-as an expert, and subsequently worked under the League of Nations. He is interested specially in the welfare of 1 the minorities, and has, in this connection, made several useful suggestions to the League '' In his introduction to '· The Protection of Minorities '' by Miss L. P. Mair, M. A. , Prof. Gilhe1t Murrav writes,- 11 The duty laid upon the Council has proved somewhat alarming to the timid virtue of that eminent body. To intervene on behalf of oppressed minorities is to �ourt unpopularity and cer. . tainly no member of the Council has shown alacrity either to listen to complaints or to remedy injustice. ''