INDIAN CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1930, Page 5

INDIAN CONFERENCE

SOME IMPORTANT SPEECHES

(Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 21. Five days of general discussion at the Indian Round-Table Conference, was concluded to-day by the Prime Minister, the Presiden of the Conference. In his speech he said the simple fact that the Conference was assembled in itself was a recognition ctf the aims which could never be departed from. Regarding the pledges since 1&27, Government accepted everything that liad been said officially and the Conference would have proof they maent to carry it out. The magnificent speeches by the Princes and by representatives of practically every interest of the,community had been extraordinarily practical. They had given most substantial contribution in their opening speeches to a really united federated Ind a. “We want for India a federation which is flexible, which meets India’s historical inheritance and the liberty of the individual.” The problem now was to supply practical answers for embodying in an Act of Parliament to questions regarding the nature of the component units to be fitted into the scheme of federation, the nature of the contral co-ordinating structure, the relations of this struc--1 ture, to the provinces, its relations to the States, the provisions necessary to ■secure willing co-operation of minorities, and the special interests off subjects where with the central structure would deal. The general administrative functions and responsibilities of the constitution must'meet the two fundamental requirements. It must work and must evolve. That was the history of all constitutions of the Dominions. In leaving the conference to a committee, he said they would proceed with the best will, not only of the Government but of the British Parliament. Before the Prime Minister spoke, Aga Khan, chairman of the British Indian Delegation made a short but important speech. They had heard, he said, practically every school of Indian though, and if all the differences were eliminated there was only one point of complete unanimity. They all asked for a full measure of self Government. “We ask you to promise us the framework. If the picture we also paint in it is unsatisfactory' to any of the important minorities, or to the Pi •inces, or to the small section of minorities, we will try again and we will continue trying, till we produce something that will be generally satisfactory. For one I am particularly anxious that, it shall be in a form which will ensure that not only every Indian minority: but the British .commercial element in India shall be satisfied that their, interests are safe.” There was no reason why if they could produce a federal scheme that . would please the Princes, Hindus, Moslems, and the smaller minorities, and satisfy legitimate commercial interests, that they should not nil at this moment start on the basis of full •elf Government and responsibility.