FEDERATION IN INDIA.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20107, 10 December 1930, Page 11

FEDERATION IN INDIA.

CONSTRUCTING NEW SUB-COMMITTEES AT WORK. (BRITISn OFFICIAL WIHELESS.) RUGBY, December 8. There were both yesterday and on Saturday, informal and perfectly friendly discussions between the Hindu and Moslem delegates at the RoundTable Conference, with the object of reaching adjustments on tiie minority question. Meanwhile, reports that the Government had taken sides in the so-called deadlock on this diliicult issue ;u j authoritatively described as absolutely untrue. The Government has not yet approached the .subject at ail, and, while naturally taking a keen interest in it, continues to regard a solution a.s primarily a matter for the Indian J communities. The problem is one j that has engaged attention for years, and the fact that the conversations in London which have taken place between the Indian delegates during the last lew weeks have not as yet provided a solution is no justification lor excessive pessimism. The discussions between tiie Indian delegates have • been entirely free from lriction, but marked by a mutual desire to reach accommodation on a long-standing and unquestionably intricate problem. ihe sub-committees oi the conference are at work on tho subjects of federal relations, provincial constitutions. and the separation of Burma. It is stated that those delegates who take the view that federation is .the only practicable method of achieving a united India have expressed frankly their views on the conditions wherein they are willing to participate. They feel that the States should enter the scheme individually by separate conventions, and all tho States could retain sovereignty and full internal independence. save where sovereignty may be sacrificed for Federal purposes. Before ai\r final decision is reached, however, the Princes desiro a precise elucidation ot the position in regard to finance, and the provinces in British rndin. It was made clear in the discussions that thev would be prepared to federate with British India as it is to-day. Separation of Burma. The Burma Sub-Committee discussed various aspects of the constitutional issues arising in connexion with the .separation proposal, but no definite proposals have yet been formulated. It, however, is generally agreed that the legitimate interests of Indian and ether minorities in Burma must be safeguarded. Tiie committee considers adequate attention .should be paid to the question of immigration and Indian labour, and that provision be made for the regulation oi the conditions of work and life cf immigrants. The commit Lee also specially stressed the importance of there being no discrimination regarding Indians entering Burma. The discussions of the Burma Sul>Coininittee ranged over a wide field, under the following headings: (!) The nature of the constitutional advance for Burma on separation. t'J) The best method for securing the interest-; of minorities. (3) The procedure lor the neec-sary financial settlements between India and Burma, and the arrangements for the defence of Burma after separation (4) Tho desirability of continuing central services such as the scientific services. <5) The desirability of promoting suitable arrangements to facilitate ti ado between India and Burma. Basis of Federation. The Federal Structure Sub-Commit-tee- resumed its discussion of the component elements of federation, the type of Federal Legislature, the number of chambers whereof it should consist, and the powers of the Federal Legislature, and beard representative views of the Prii.ces and British Indian delegates. In the Provincial Constitutional Sub-Committee, there was a long discussion on the provision that should be made on tiie abolition of the dyarehy for tlu? maintenance of law and order, which it "is felt must become the responsibility of the Provincial Legislature. Princes and Federation. The Princes have to some extent cleared the ground in the Federal Structure Sub-Committee by defining their viewpoint regarding the component elements of federation. They consider that on the side of tho Indian States their representatives should be chosen by the (Government ot the States, and not bv the Princes r lho States should come in individually, by convention. All the States should retain their sovereignty and full internal independence, excepting those features ot sovereignty which were sacrificed for federal purposes. The interest of all tho smaller States which should be grouped should be safeg'virded. The grouping should be a matter for the States themselves, and should be settled by a Chamber of Princes. Ori the other side, the component element would be British India. Before going into an internal decision, however, the Princes desire to know what would be the position regarding the centre and the provinces in British fndia. and they made it clear that they did not desire to federate with British India as it exists today Tt was also made clear that no State should be coerced to join the Federation, ar.d for this reason the method of convention, the States signing individually, was put forward. British Indian Views. On the British Indian side, preference was expressed for federation oJ the autonomous provinces and for a legislature of two Chambers. Regarding federation with the Indian States, unitary federation in which the States and British India woufd work together in the same federal bodies was favoured, with the Princes or their representatives in both Chambers. Regarding the reserved subjects, such as defence and external relations, it was suggested that during the transitional period they must be in the charge of the Viceroy, but they should ultimately also become, federal subjects. Constitution of tho Provinces. The Provincial Constitutional SubCommittee discussed the heading dealing with the constitution ar.d composition cf the executive, tho powers ol the Governor, vis-a-vis his Executive and Legislative Administration, law and order, and tho right of minorities in the provinces. The discussion was general and followed on the general agreement reached favouring the abolition of the dyarehy. It revealed a general feeling lavouring the administration of law and order, to the appointment ot official Ministers, and to statutory prnvisions creating a Chief Minister lor the Government. Views for and against a second Chamber were expressed. Regarding the powers of the Governor, it was agreed that he should bo invested with certain powers in the ev-nt of a breakdown of Government, but there was general opposition to "' nl .^° ln ß given powers of ratification of Bills passed by the Legislature and to the restoration of "rants already cut down. " The discission v/ilj continue to-mor-row - "'hen the Foreign Secretary (Mr Arthur Henderson) will summarise the sense of tJie meeting.