INDIAN DINNER.

Hokitika Guardian, 14 July 1921, Page 2

INDIAN DINNER.

A <;I(1!aT FUNCTION

—...EORAPH- —PER '‘.CESS ASSOCIATION.! (Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) LONDON', July 12. Indian delegates to the Conference entertained the Prime Ministers at Carlton Hotel. Its magnificence \va> untouched by any other function. Six native princes with an aggregate annual income of over two millions, were included in party, by contrast with Sastri who belongs to a cult binding him to spend only £6 per month on himself. His income is eighty pounds a year. His two sons are attending the University. Sastri is the brains of the Indian delegation. MR HUGHES SPEECH. (Received This Day at 9.40 a.m.) LONDON, July 12. Mr Hughes responding on beiuvlf of the guests at the Indian dinner, said he congratulated India on the magnificence of her performances in the war, and the excellence of her representation at the Imperial Conference. He particularly emphasised importance of a united Empire to India and the self-govern-ing Dominions and pointed out all that Australasia had achieved in the way of self Government and independence. Thi showed that what was possible under the protection of the British flag and British administration was still possible in similar circumstances in any other British territory, no matter how advanced their views. The Dominions were now free in every sense of tl" word, yet they were members of tL greatest Empire that ever existed. The Empire was the greatest guarantee of pence in the world and would ensure Dominion safety. He asked the Indian delegates to take this message bee’ with them. No matter wlmt some <•' their extremists might asked, Indians should remember that whatever tic • achieved it would be useless without safety which could not be guaranteed outside of the British Empire. Beg P’ew to remember all the Dominions achieve, in the wav of self-government was onlv gained bv constitutional means and not revolution. Their progress had been one of steady advance towards liberty. Whatever India’s aspirations might be they could not- be served by u '° ' ticn, nor could anything b« assured by separation from the Empire,