INDIANS’ DEMANDS

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 208, 28 May 1921, Page 7

INDIANS’ DEMANDS

MIGRATION PROBLEM WITHIN THE EMPIRE

CLAIM FOR RIGHTS OF FULL CITIZENSHIP

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright

London, May 26

The Australian Press Agency interviewed Mr. Sastri, of the Imperial Legislative Council of India, who intends to insist that the Imperial Conference deal with the Indian, migration problem with, in the Empire. "Indians.” he said, "demand the same rights to full citizenship in any part of the British Dominions which India accords to immigrants into India from any part of the Empire. Indians demand the right to go anywhere, in any numbers, within the Empire, together with the right to carry on a business or profession without more restraint than is imposed on Britishers. On the other- hand, India recognises the full right of the Dominions possessing autonomous Governments to regulate, restrict, or even prohibit immigration from anywhere, whether Indian or foreign, which they conceive is calculated to reduce the standard of comfort or dominate or possibly imperil civilisation.”

Mr. Sastri recognises that the two principles are irreconcilable if pushed to the extreme; therefore be proposes a round-table conference, comprising British. Australian, New Zealand, Canadian, South African, and Indian representatives, for the purpose of devising a scheme of mutual co-operation and regulation of inter-imperial migration.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.