Bill To Preserve India's Privileges

Chronicle (Levin), 6 December 1949, Page 5

Bill To Preserve India's Privileges

Received Tuesday, 10.10 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 5. The House of Commons. today riave the India (Constitutional Provision) Bill an unopposed second reading. This Bill will preserve for India — after she becomes a republic on Januarv 20 — the richts and privileges she at present enjoys under British law. The Secretary for Commonwealth Relations, Mr. P. J. NoelBaker, toM Parliament: "We have shown that the Empire can he transformed into a Commonwealth by evolution and not revolution. bv' nsreement and not by force. This Bill means that Indians will continue to have in this country the ;-ame rights and privileges as today. Trade preferences between Tndia and Britain will continue. In eeneral, all the provisions of our law in respect to Indians and Indian property will remain in force wherever they. are in force now. "We know "that the Commonwealth is strengthened by this deeision," he added. "We hope that Tndia may be strengthened also by Ihe decision to remain in its ranks." The former Under-Secretary for Tndia, Mr. Richafd Butler, for the Opposition, said: "It is my duty and pleasure to express our complete agreement with the passage of this Bill. It follows naturally upon the decisioris of the Anril meeting of the Commonwealth Ministers and Mr. Churchill's yiews fxpressed at that time."