BRITAIN AND INDIA

Hokitika Guardian, 9 July 1925, Page 2

BRITAIN AND INDIA

LATEST CABLE NEWS

LORD BIRKENHEAD’S SPEECH. [Australia >V N.Z. Cable Association.] LONDON, July 8. An eagerly-awaited speech by Lord Birkenhead on tho Indian policy, followed the lines of an accurate Australian press Association forecast on June 19th. Lord Birkenhead began by declaring that- no short or dogmatic answer could be given to the question: "Has the Indian constitution of 1919, succeeded He said it neither had altogether succeeded nor failed. Parliament had provided that the Constitution, after ten years should be reviewed by a Royal Commission. It would undoubtedly require such a revision and it could not be too plainly stated that everything would he necessarily thrown into the melting pot. The Diarchy itself, obviously" was not. a snored principle, but it must he decided by results. Regardin'- •- dare of the revision, ill his (Birkenhead’s) view, it was not the intention of tho Legislature to shackle the succeeding Governments but the essential condition remained clear and precise. There would and could not he any reconsideration until they saw everywhere among the loaders of Indian thought an evidence of a genuine desire to co-operate in making the best of tho existing constitution. The Swarajist Party, ho said, had unhappily, so far. thrown its powerful weight ill the scales. Lord Birkenhead proceeded, as a forecast. to olfer full consideration to any responsible scheme advanced by Indian lie added, regarding the Alerriman re|K>rt. that it was on tho linos of the majority report that any immediate action must he taken. Alauv ot its recommendations could lie carried out bv regulations. f ord Birkenhead concluded, eloquently. bv .saying that there was no lost Dominion, nor will there he until the moment, if it ever comes, when the whole British Empire with all it means is splintered in doom. 'l’lie "Morning Post” says: Concession will not placate the implacable minority, who have captured India s electoral machinery. W lmt nave tho experiments done whether for the Indian or the British Empire? India and Britain are to be left in doubt, while. Lord Beading (Viceroy) pursues his vacillations in India, and Lord Bnkouhead supports them at Home. Lord Birkenhead’s cajoleries for the Indian politicians to co-operate or produce a „t ion of their own seem omm-

" The "Morning Post” also says: We t.-ll the Government frankly that n there is nnv more tampering with Home Buie in India they will come down over it. inst as the Coalition tell over Homo Rule m Ireland." The “Daily Telegraph” says: Ihe Government's reply to language of menace and tactics of political sabotage will he cordially approved. The ‘-Daily Herald” remarks: Lord Birkenhead sttll'erod from the faults of pomposity, over-emphasis and emptim.ss is obliged to con loss tluit the Minsters, after two Cabinets, could not 'aerco regarding their Indian policy. In his speech. Lord Birkenhead, dealing with the Indians in the British Empire, asked other parts of the Empire to remember how profundly tin’s problem alfected the relations between the Empire and India He knew their difficulties, and ho only asked tint in everv measure they took, tliet should exhaust every effort to avoid M ,,h discrimination ns must dcepl> wound the ancient: and dignified peoples of India.