THE IMPERIAL SYSTEM 67
India, [1] or in Native States. [2] To render them impotent to cause complications, they were not allowed to lend money to or be concerned in raising any for native princes [3] or foreign companies or foreign European merchants. Similarly to protect the natives from their oppression they were forbiden to lend money to the latter at a rate of interest exceeding 12 per cent. per annum on penalty of forfeiting for every offence treble the value, [4] and they were placed under the jurisdiction of the Justices of the Peace in all cases involving assault or trespass [5] on, and small debts [6 ] due to, the natives of India. Moreover, every British subject of European birth was required to register in the office of his district the name, etc., of his native stewards, agents, and partners, [7] on penalty of being disentitled to recover or receive any sum or sums of money by reason of the joint concern or to compel an account thereof by any suit in law or equity in any court within the provinces. [8]
The ruling race had long chafed at these restrictions, under which it was placed, without much avail. They were evidently aimed at keeping out an element dangerous to the stability of the Indian Empire, but, as time went on, and as the Indian Empire was consolidated by successive victories over the native princes, there was raised against these restrictions such a storm of indignant criticism that even those who had acquiesced in their virtue were forced to admit that they had outlived their purpose. While the British Parliament could not help abiding by the sentiments of the time, it refused to disregard the consequences which it thought would inevitably attend upon the free ingress of British subjects of European birth under the then existing system of government. It realized that a harmonious treatment of the immigrants and an effective control over them was absolutely essential. Parliament was afraid that the different governments armed as they were with co-equal and independent powers of legislation and administration by exercising these powers with regard to the immigrants entering their respective territories, with different views and according to inconsistent principles might integrate the whole mass of them into a disaffected body difficult to be dealt with. Besides the
1 24 Geo, III, c. 25, s. 44. 5 53 Geo. Ill, c. 155, s. 105.
2 26 Geo. Ill, c. 57, s. 67. 6 ‘Ibid., s. 106.
3 37 Geo. Ill, c. 142, s. 28. 7 21 Geo. ill, c. 70, s. 13.
4 13 Geo. Ill, c. 63, s. 30. 8 Ibid., s. 16