INDIAN CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 15 December 1930, Page 5

INDIAN CONFERENCE

CHURCHILL’S CRY.

(British Official Wireless.)

LONDON, December IS

“Impertinent and insulting” is how many of the Indian round-table conference members describe Mr Winston Churchili’s recent speech in which lie made his cats’ meat comparison’. The delegates declare that the whole of Mr Churchill's speech is an indiscreet one, especially as coming from an exChancellor, and they hope that it does not express the British Conservative / party’s view, as otherwise if the Conservatives would he in power when the India Bill comes into Parliament, the Bill’s fate would be sealed, and indeed there would be little use in con-

tinuing the conference. Mr Churchill’s speech has depressed the Nationalists in the conference, hut several of the Indian representatives

regard it as reassuring, especially his reference to the necessity of safe-guard-ing minorities, regarding which the Sikhs, the Europeans and the AngloIndians at the conference are most nervouß, fearing that the Moslems will abandon the demand for communal elee- , torates. The European Anglo-Indians <. are both determined to insist on the , fulfilment of * separate electorates. A POINTED REBUKE. LONDON, December 12. lit. Hon. Ramsay MacDonald, speaking at Reading, said that- Mr Winston • Churchill’s recent speech on India (advocating that the Gandhism should.be crushed) was a mischievous one. Throughout the speech lacked any constitutional proposal, but it merely expressed the antiquated relationship of imperial authority. Mr' Churchill, .he said, gave those who are desiring the failure of the London Conference the opportunity to raise India’s prejudice against the British. Mr MacDonald continued: “But I have got such a hold on Indian opinion that we can afford to let Mr Churchill make his speech, though, if he takes jn'y advice, lie will not repeat it.”