Indian Opinion (Phoenix, Natal), page 660: Empire Theatre resolutions against the Draft Asiatic Ordinance, 15 September 1906
A column-set newspaper page printing five numbered resolutions from the Johannesburg mass meeting of British Indians. Tells: each resolution is framed in the language of British subjecthood and the Crown ('King-Emperor', 'un-British requirements', His Majesty's past declarations), and Resolution IV pledges imprisonment rather than compliance.
- Date
- September 15, 1906
- Period
- Pre-1914
- Made by
- Indian Opinion, Phoenix, Natal; reporting a mass meeting of the Transvaal British Indian Association
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Country
- Natal Colony
- Medium
- Newspaper pages
- Issuer type
- Media
- Regime
- Smythe Government
- Leader
- Charles John Smythe
- Audience
- Diaspora or minority
- Techniques
- Transfer
- Source
- Identified Openly sourced: the speaker is who they say they are
- Source
- Internet Archive (scan by the Gandhi Heritage Portal), retrieved October 2, 2026
- Rights
- Public domain by age (published in Natal, 15 September 1906, before 1931); IA item states no separate rights
Indian Opinion (Phoenix, Natal), 15 September 1906; scan from the Gandhi Heritage Portal via the Internet Archive
Text on the object
660 INDIAN OPINION 15TH SEPTEMBER, 1906 [column 1: closing lines of a speech; not transcribed] The following resolutions were carried unanimously. Resolution I This mass meeting of British Indians here assembled respectfully urges the Honourable the President and Members of the Legislative Council of the Transvaal not to pass the Draft Asiatic Ordinance to amend Law No. 3 of 1885, now before that Honourable House, in view of the fact that: (1) It is, so far as the Indian community of the Transvaal is concerned, a highly contentious measure. (2) It subjects the British Indian community of the Transvaal to degradation and insult totally undeserved by its past history. [points (3) to (10) and Resolutions II and III not transcribed] Resolution IV In the event of the Legislative Council, the Local Government, and the Imperial Authorities rejecting the humble prayer of the British Indian community of the Transvaal against the Draft Asiatic Law Amendment Ordinance, this mass meeting of British Indians here assembled solemnly and regretfully resolves that, rather than submit to the galling, tyrannous, and un-British requirements laid down in the above Draft Ordinance, every British Indian in the Transvaal shall submit himself to imprisonment and shall continue so to do until it shall please His Most Gracious Majesty, the King-Emperor, to grant relief. Proposed by Mr. Hajee Habib, Pretoria. Seconded by Mr. H. O. Ally, Johannesburg. [supporters' names partly illegible] Resolution V This meeting desires the Chairman to forward copy of the first resolution to the Honourable the President and members of the Legislative Council, and copies of all resolutions to the Honourable the Colonial Secretary, to His Excellency the Acting Lieutenant-Governor, and to His Excellency the High Commissioner, and to request His Excellency the High Commissioner to cable the text of resolutions Nos. 2, 3, and 4 to the Imperial Authorities. A Charge of Assault Magistrate's Significant Comment (Special to "Indian Opinion.") [report not transcribed]
Read by Claude from the committed scan at native resolution; Resolutions I (points 1-2), IV and V and the headings are transcribed, the rest is not. Shadow at the lower left makes some supporters' names illegible. Spelling and punctuation as printed.
