The Guardian And Evening Star, with wnich is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1930. THE INDIAN CONFERENCE.

Hokitika Guardian, 5 August 1930, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with wnich is incorporated the West Coast Times. TUESDAY, AUGUST 5, 1930. THE INDIAN CONFERENCE.

In accordance with the .suggestion submitted to the Government by the Chairman of the Indian Commission last year, a Round Table Conference on India is to meet shortly in London, and the Prime Minister is already making arrangements about its composition and personnel. It is understood that all classes and sections of the Indian people, including the rulers of the Native States, are to be represented; and Mr MacDonald has now invited the other political parties in the House of Commons to send delegates to the Conference. All the nominees are to have the same status, and the purpose of the. Conference is to discuss the whole situation, including, among other important topics, the recently published report of the Simon Commission. But it is evident, says an exchange, that Mr MacDonald will not accept the suggestion that the Commission itself should be represented by delegates at the Conference to expound its views. In answer to a question from Mr Lloyd George, the Prime Minister said that, in his opinion, it would be a great mistake to include them, and he added subsequently that “there is a. strong reason why it is undesirable” to invite the Chairman of the Commission to take part in the Conference Obviously Mr MacDonald fears that if Sir John Simon appeared at the Conference the other members of the “round table group” would regard the discussion as merely a thinly disguised attempt to force the Commission’s report upon the people of India whether their leaders approve of it or pot. This is plausible

enough, hut if members of the Commission are to lie ox lulled on tlie ground of parl-izansliip, will it not he necessary, as Sir Austen Chamberlain lias suggested, to shut out also the agitators who have taken au active part in resisting or undermining British

authority in India? Mr MacDonald interpreted this question as referring to the Central Indian Committee, and it also suggested a reference to the President of the National Congress and his .principal followers. Apparently the Prime Minister is not,sure whether the agitators arc inclined to participate in this discussion ; and it would be quite consistent with their policy of “non-co-operation” to refuse. At the same time it must be admitted that the ad-

vocates of Swaraj are not, like, the Simon Commission, members of an officially appointed body whose advice is likely to be taken seriously at Home. It is quite another -question whether the Government can safely make such a generous concession n« to invite tho c e who have embarked deliberately on this “passive resistance” campaign to take part in this discussion. To induce the Indian leaders to attend the Conference sympathetic supporters of Indian Nationalism in London have even suggested that Gandhi should be liberated and invited to. come. But this would be a most ignominious confession of weakness which the Imperial Government is hardly likely to make. 11l any ease, the Conference is to be only a discussion its resolutions will have no mandatory effect, and the full responsibility for tbe poli n v ultimately adopted in India must still, rest on the shoulders of the Imperial authorities.