EVENTS IN INDIA

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 139, 10 December 1930, Page 11

EVENTS IN INDIA

CONFERENCE OUTCOME

PEOPLE FRIENDLY

HOPEFUL BUT ANXIOUS

(British Official Wireless.) (-Received lOtli December, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 9th December. The Government of India's weekly review of the situation in India says that hope- alternates with anxiety as to tho outcome of the Bound Table Conference, but the fceliug is growing that it represents a very important constructive- effort, meriting the goodwill of all with the interests of India at heart. JKegarding events in India, the review says that in the United Provinces tho agitation is more or less normal, and meetings and procession*, have lost much of their previous attraction. In the countryside the people are friendly, but anxious, as in most of the other provinces, about the difficulties in selling produce. In Bihar and Orissa tho civil disobedience movement seems less popular, but several violent incidents occurred. Assam reported an improvement in the political situation. Clashes have occurred in Bombay and Karachi, and during terrorist outrages at Cliandpur, in Bengal. It is believed that the wrecking of a mail train in Burma some weeks ago was tho work of the Bengal revolutionary party, and several arrest;; have been made. SEPAEATION OF BURMA. Again very satisfactory progress was made by tho sub-committees of the Round Table Conference'to-day. Tho Burma Sub-committeo has now authorised its chairman, Earl Kusselt, to embody its conclusions In a report for presentation, to tho main Committee next week. Tho general sense of the Sub-com-mittee was to-day expressed, favouring a resolution asking that His Majesty's Government should make a public announcement regarding the acceptance o* tho principle of separation, and stating that the prospetcs of the constitutional advance of Burma as part of British India towards responsible Government will not be prejudiced by separation of the two countries. It should be explained in this connection that the Government preserves an open mind regarding the nature of Burma's future constitution, and that tho matter will bo considered by the Round Table Conference which, it has been suggested, should meet in London for the purpose at a later date, and at which contemplated representatives of all classes and interests in Burma would have a chance to express freely their opinions on the constitutional issue. The Committee confirmed the conclu--1 sions provisionally adopted at the earlier meeting on protection, of minority interests, financial settlement between India and Burma, Burmese defence, administration by Burma of subjects not classed as central iv devolution rules, tho continued use by Burma of certain scienti/ie services of the Government of India, and the desirability of a trade convention between tho two countries. PRINCES WANT UNITED INDIA. In the .Federal Structure Sub-com-mittee the greater part of the time today was occupied by an important discussion on Federal legislation. The Princes further explained their views, emphasising that they, like their fellow-Indians, had only one ideal, namely, a united India with government of India by Indians. Hitherto, the States have shown a preference for a general Federal Legislature. They now announced that if one House was unacceptable to British India, they were prepared to accept the principle of two Houses, and that British India could take its choice. On the assumption that there were two Houses the States would come into both, but jas equal co-partners desiring an equal voice. In the event of a dispute and consequent joint session between tho two Houses, the States asked that the matter be settled by a majority of not less han 75 per cent. Although the States arc- not prepared to part with their sovereignty, they did not expect the provinces to part with uniformity in legislation. The question thus shapes itself as to how to preserve uniformity in. legislation without damaging the States' sovereign right. The suggestion of the Princes was that the laws passed by the Federal body should be ratified by the respective States' Legislatures. The States had been enacting their own laws, and it was therefore a matter for settlement whether they should havo a chance of passing legislation themselves. "What amounted to a pledge was given that these Federal laws would, in fact, be passed by the States. Such a procedure had not, however, appealed to the British Indian delegates, and the matter was left open. In view of the Sub-committee, the Federal Legislature should bo considered the primary Legislature of India, constructed and constituted in relation to federated units. An opinion was expressed that policy and legislation were the main directions in which tho utmost power should be given to the Federal Government. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S FUNCTIONS. Regarding administration, the States took the view that the Federal Government should bo confined to the exercise of general supervision, and the hope was expressed that there would be no residual subjects in tho sense of their being central British Indian subjects, as distinct from Federal sub- j jects. The Sub-committee is now virtually ready to begin the discussion of the difficult question of constitution, character, and powers and responsibilities of tho Executive, and will probably j take up tliis subject early next week. It is generally agreed tliat the progress made is highly satisfactory, and beyond the expectations of the delegates a week ago. Tho Provincial Constitutional Subcommittee during- to-day's meeting discussed whether a second Chamber should be set up by Statute, or left lo i-liu individual choice- of _ tho provinces, and the general souse was iv favour or! the latter course. The Committee adjourned until Friday, when a draft report will bo considered, preparatory to presentation to a general meeting' of the Conference early next week.