INDIAN COMMISSION

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 112, 9 February 1928, Page 11

INDIAN COMMISSION

CHAIRMAN SETS FORTH ITS INTENTIONS IN LETTER TO THE VICEROY TO ALLAY MISCONCEPTION The chairman of the Indian Statutory Commission, Sir John Simon, with a view to allaying misconception, has addressed a letter to the Viceroy of India setting forth the intentions of the Commission. Rugby, February 7. Sir John Simon, Chairman of the Indian Statutory Commission, has addressed to the Viceroy of India a letter in which, to allay misconception, he sets forth the in-

tentions of the Commission. He says he understands that the Government of India and local governments have documents to put before the Commission. Instead of the Commission dealing with these documents bj’ itself, he pro-

poses that they should be received with any

explanation or amplification and then shall come before a “Joint Free Conference,” over which he will preside, consisting of seven British Commissioners and a corresponding body of representatives chosen by the Indian Legislatures. Sir John Simon continues: “We put forward the plan of a Joint Free Conference, not only because we should welcome the issistance of colleagues from the Indian Legislatures, but because we think it is only right and fair, and in the truest interests of India and Britain alike that opportunity should be provided for such memoranda and testimony to be scrutinised, and if necessary, elucidated from the Indian side on free and equal terms.”

Sir John suggests that the two Houses of the central Legislature should be invited to choose from their non-official members a joint committee, which might conveniently be seven in number, and that each local Legislative Council should be asked to constitute a similar body. The Indian side of the conference would consist when central subjects were being dealt with, of those first named. At provincial sittings the Indian wing would consist primarily of provincial members, but Sir John Simon proposes that some members of the Central Joint Committee be present also. He urges that one of the merits of the method of a Joint Conference is that besides securing due recognition of equal status it provides an opportunity for the free exchange of views and mutual influence which are best calculated to promote the largest measure of agreement possible. British Official Wireless.