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Pawsey's statement, printed in 'Naga Nation', that Governor's new clause 9 should be accepted by NNC |
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As to the N.N.C. itself, Pawsey feels that wisdom demands an acceptance by the Governor of the new clause 9 and the morning we arrived he had just received a telegram approving a (53) new approach. Pawsey was very pleased and when he returned from his office late in the afternoon he had already drafted a statement strongly advising the Nagas to agree. He is putting it in the Naga Nation. 'Lately there has been much excitement' he has written. 'Many people seem to imagine that happiness and good administration and wealth and prosperity will automatically follow independence. |
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That idea is quite wrong. Independence will mean: tribal warfare, no hospitals, no schools, no salt, no trade with the plains and general unhappiness. |
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When you go to transfrontier villages you find that the young men spend most of their time on sentry duty. As a result they cannot help to cultivate the fields and the majority of the villages are undernourished. |
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In the old days salt was so expensive that a mithan could be bought for a few seers. No one wants that state of affairs to continue. |
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You will say that you do not want to be administered by foreigners, but the agreement made with His Excellency will, if you take your stand united behind the agreement, safeguard your interests. You will not lose your land, you can keep your customs, you can live as you did before. |
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You will say that Clause 9 gives you no chance to run your own country. But H.E. the Governor has agreed that he will press for this clause to be changed so that Nagas (provided they remain in the India Union and do not press to go to Burma or Pakistan) at the end of ten years will be free to decide what arrangements should be made for the future administration of their country. |
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No better terms than these can be expected. |
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You should accept them, become reunited and strong, forget petty ambitions, and work unobtrusively and honestly without thought of pecuniary benefit for the good of your people.' (54) |
