--- title: 'Indian Opinion (Phoenix, Natal), page 266: ''Natal Mercury''s Comments'' and ''The Durban Conference'' during the coal-mine strike, 29 October 1913' url: https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/indian-opinion-natal-mercury-durban-conference-1913/ description: A newspaper page that reprints a leader from a mainstream Durban daily under the sub-head 'Natal Mercury's Comments', then reports a conference at the… section: Collection --- [Collection](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/) [![Indian Opinion (Phoenix, Natal), page 266: 'Natal Mercury's Comments' and 'The Durban Conference' during the coal-mine strike, 29 October 1913](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/indian-opinion-natal-mercury-durban-conference-1913.jpg)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/images/indian-opinion-natal-mercury-durban-conference-1913.jpg) # Indian Opinion (Phoenix, Natal), page 266: 'Natal Mercury's Comments' and 'The Durban Conference' during the coal-mine strike, 29 October 1913 A newspaper page that reprints a leader from a mainstream Durban daily under the sub-head 'Natal Mercury's Comments', then reports a conference at the Chamber of Commerce. Tells: the Indian-edited paper sets a named, European-run newspaper's call to repeal the 3-pound tax beside Gandhi's statement that the strike was continuing. ## Text on the object Original (English) · read from the image, not independently checked ``` 266 INDIAN OPINION OCTOBER 29TH, 1913 majority of Natal employers are averse to the repeal of the tax." The Natal Coalowners' Association wish it to be understood that they have never associated themselves with the expression of any such view. Natal Mercury's Comments On the 23rd instant the Mercury had the following leaderette:— The strike of Indians at the Natal collieries is the beginning of a movement which must be regarded as unquestionably serious. The duty of the Government in the circumstances seems to us perfectly plain. The sole point immediately at issue appears to be the £3 annual tax, and there is reason to believe that trouble would be at an end if the Government would give a distinct pledge that the tax shall be repealed in the next session of Parliament. The tax cannot be said to have fulfilled the object for which it was imposed. [continues; not transcribed] The Durban Conference By mutual arrangement, a conference of representative employers met Mr. Gandhi in the Chamber of Commerce on Saturday last, at which Mr. Gandhi made a statement on the strike. Subsequently the conference placed itself in telegraphic communication with the Government. After the conference, Mr. Gandhi was asked by a Mercury representative whether there was any truth in the suggestion that the strike was at an end. "No," he replied, "the strike is still continuing. [continues; remaining columns not transcribed] ``` Read by Claude from the committed scan. The Mercury leaderette is transcribed to the end of the sentence 'The tax cannot be said to have fulfilled the object for which it was imposed' and the interview to its first sentence; ink show-through and stains make lower passages uncertain, so they are left out. Spelling and punctuation as printed. [← Regeneración, 30 August 1913: "La Prensa Capitalista Yankee" and "Carranza, Embaucador"](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/regeneracion-prensa-capitalista-yankee-1913/) [El entierro de Zapata (The Burial of Zapata) →](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/entierro-de-zapata-vanegas-arroyo-1914/) ## Using the same techniques - [Bronze sestertius of Gaius (Caligula), reverse S P Q R P P OB CIVES SERVATOS in an oak wreath](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/sestertius-caligula-ob-cives-servatos-0037/) (Roman Empire · 0037 · Testimonial, Transfer) - [Seljuq gold dinar of Sanjar, dated 493 AH, with the Abbasid caliph named on one face](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/seljuq-gold-dinar-sanjar-caliph-name-1099/) (Great Seljuk Empire · 1099 · Testimonial) - [J'Accuse...! Lettre au Président de la République (J'Accuse...! Letter to the President of the Republic), L'Aurore, 13 January 1898](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/jaccuse-laurore-front-page-1898/) (France · Jan 13, 1898 · Testimonial). Content note: Newspaper page about a wrongful-conviction controversy; the letter text refers to a prisoner held in torture-like conditions on Devil's Island; no graphic imagery. - [The Speaker, front page 'The Week', 22 June 1901: Hobhouse report and 'methods of barbarism'](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/speaker-hobhouse-camps-methods-of-barbarism-1901/) (United Kingdom · Jun 22, 1901 · Name-calling, Testimonial). Content note: Text on deaths of women and children in British camps in South Africa, with mortality rates. - ["The War with Japan" (Puck cover, 23 October 1907)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/puck-the-war-with-japan-1907/) (United States · Oct 23, 1907 · Testimonial, Scapegoating) - [Bande Mataram (Paris), memorial page to Madan Lal Dhingra, 17 August 1909](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/bande-mataram-paris-dhingra-memorial-1909/) (France · Aug 17, 1909 · Testimonial, Transfer) - ['Do your duty bravely. Fear God. Honour the King.' Lord Kitchener postcard (about 1914)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/kitchener-duty-bravely-postcard/) (United Kingdom · 1914 · Testimonial, Transfer) - [Политика (Politika), Belgrade, 6 September 1914: "Србија је победила!" (Serbia Has Won!)](https://propagandaarchive.org/collection/politika-6-september-1914/) (Kingdom of Serbia · Sep 6, 1914 · Card stacking, Testimonial). Content note: Wartime front page carrying an unverified atrocity allegation against Austro-Hungarian troops and triumphal claims about enemy morale and losses.