Indian Affairs

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1922, Page 2

Indian Affairs

INDIAN CONGRESS. AUSTRALIAN AND N.Z. CABLE ASSOCIATION DELHI. Dec 26. Four thousand delegates attended the opening session of the National Congress at Calcutta. 11l a presidential address, R. C. Das, insisted that Government must be by the masses, not by the middle classes. He favoured securing the election to Councils in order to carry out the policy of non-co-operation, vigorously denouncing the plea for law and order which he described as the last resource of bureaucracies. He maintained- no regulation could be law unless based im the peoples consent, without which obedience was not obligatory. Ho urged that India’s ideal should be nationalism. One great nationalising of the Indian nation was in sight; the development of which law along the path of Swaraj non-violent Non-Co-opera-tion was the only means of attaining Sivarj. He emphasised the importance of India’s participation in the great Asiatic Federation replacing the I’auTslamio movement and consituting a union of Asia’s oppressed Nationalists. He disapproved of granting provincial autonomy, with responsibility to the Central Government, favouring instead an expression of collective will through the, medium small centres. He urged the appointment of a committee to draw up such a Swaraj scheme. He considered the present system of reformed councils absolutely unsuited to the nature and genius of the nation who refused to recognise it as the real foundation of a Swaraj. The President expected Non-Co-opera-tors would secure a majority a.t the Council’s elections and could then demand their own constitution, failing which they should oppose all council’s work. The bureaucracy would then have to yield or withdraw the Reform Acts. lii either event it would he a triumph for the nation. He urged Congress to organise the Labour peasantry, otherwise they might form their own organisations disassociated from the Swaraj’s objective. 'The Congress by seventy to four adopted a resolution that the contestin., of seats for tlie Councils was opposed to their religion. The decision is expected to considerably influence the controversy. INDIA FOR THE INDIANS. DELHI, Dee. 26. A resolution will be submitted at the recruitment of British soldiers for the Army of India, by one third and also urging the Indinnisation of the Army in India in the course of fifteen years bv the gradual elimination of the British "forces, and their, replacementby TfidlOJlfl-.