INDIAN AFFAIRS

Hokitika Guardian, 12 February 1921, Page 3

INDIAN AFFAIRS

BY TEIiEGBAI'H —PJIESS ASSN'., COPYRIGHT

AVSTRALIAN ANI) N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION. THE KING’S MESSAGE. DELjHI February 9. In the King’s message read at the inauguration of the Council of State His Majesty congratulated tho country on the success of the years of labour. For years, he said, it may bo for generations, patriotic and loyal Indians have dreamed of a Swaraj for their motherland. To-day you have the beginnings of a Swaraj within my Empire with the widest scope and ample opportunity for progress to the liberty which my other Dominions enjoy. Xfter referring to responsibilities involved. the King added: -‘Upon you lies the duty to convince the world of the wisdom of this great constitutional change, and to work for the interests and iipliftment of the millions of your fellow-countrymen who have not yet qualified for a share in political life. I shall watch your work with unfailing sympathy and resolute faith in your determination to do your duty to India and the Empire.” The Duke of Connaught, in the course of a speech, elaborated the King’s message and the Viceroy’s utterances, and appealed to be allowed to add a few words of a personal nature. He said since ho landed he felt around him the bitterness of estrangement between those who had been and those who should be friends. The shadow of the Amritsar troubles of last year had

lengthened over the face of India. Ho -> -liinew the deep concern felt by the King and Emperor at the terrible chapter of events in the Punjab and continued that no one could deplore these events more than himself. He had reached the time of life when he most desired to heal wounds and reunite those who had been disunited, and in this, which he feared would be his last visit to India, which he loved so well, he desirbd to appeal to British and Indians to bury the mistakes and misujjderstapdings of the past, forgive where they had to forgive, join hands and work together to realise hopes that arisp from to-day.

INDIAN MEMORIAL. (Received this day at 8 a.m.) DELHI, February 10. The Duke.of Connaught laid the foundation stone of the All India War Memorial at new Delhi, in tho presence of Indian troops. Tho Duke read the King’s message paying a tribute to sixty thousand soldiers and 850 Indian officers killed. He also conferred the title of “Royal” on eight Indian units, and the Duke was made Colonel-in-Chief of the 47th. Sikhs.