IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 October 1923, Page 3

IMPERIAL CONFERENCE.

THU INDIAN QI'KSTION. DFI.FCATION .MOST ACTIVE. (“Sydney Sun.” Cables). ilUteeivcd this day at 9.-15 a.m.) LONDON, October 21. The Indian dclogatinou at the Impel ial tonfcicncc has Leon most active in seeking to make an Empire crisis out of their claims for equal iccognition as citizens. They base their demand ou the resolutions passed hy the 1921 Coiil'eienee. Ihe Indians complain that nothing has been done to give elfeet to the relatione which granted them lull titizenship where they had been lawfully admitted and -me 10sidiug in the Dominions. .Mr ISnii'e and Mr Ala-'soy have little difficulty in meeting the Indian wishes so far its their own Dominions are concerned hut are likely enough to walk wittily in the light of the difficulties eoifronting Canada and South Afiica. Tim Indians are infuriated by the disabilities imposed on them in Kenya Colony which they legard as engineered bv General Smut- though Kenya is outside the South Albican lnion. There is reason to believe that General Smuts is taking the stillest attitude on the whole question and is likely to resist any considerable measure granting citizen lights to the hundred and sixty thousand of the Indian race now within the l nion.

|he Indians will ask for committees to examine the problems on each opinion for the purpose of making effectual the 1921 resolutions in these Dominions which assented to them. They claim that they have behind them a muted and national sentiment, emmuemg al creeds and classes. . dust lmw much there is Dolund their claim will measure the gravity of tue crisis.