Two 6f them have been mentioned by the City Chamberlain
in his speech. If you want to save your colony of Natal from
being overrun by a formidable enemy, you ask India for help,
and she gives it (cheers) ; if you want to rescue the white
men's Legations from massacre at Peking, and the need is *
urgent, you ask the Government of India to despatch an ex-
pedition, and they despatch it ; if you are fighting the Mad
Mullah in Somaliland, you soon discover that Jndian troops
and Indian Generals are best qualified (ot the task, and you
ask the Government of India to send them ; if jfau desire to
defend any of your extreme outposts or coaling-stations cf
the Empire, in Mauritius, Singapore, Hongkong, even Tien^
tsin or Shan-haikwan, it is to the Indian Army that you
turn ; if you want to Build a railway in, Uganda or in the
Sudan, you apply for Indian labour. When the late Mr.
Rhodjes was engaged in developing your recent acquisition
of Rhodesia, he turned to me for assistance. (Cheers). It is
ivith Indian, coolie labour that you exploit the plantations
43



338 (-ORD CURZON'S SPEECHES.
equally of Demerara and Natal; it is wkh Indian trained
OfiBcers that you irrigate Rgypt and dam the Nile (laughter
and cheers) : it is with Indian Forest Officers that you tap
the resources of Central Africa and Siamj with Indian sur^
veyors that you explore all the hidden places of the earth.
