THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY

Hokitika Guardian, 24 January 1931, Page 3

THE GOVERNMENT’S POLICY

STATEMENT BY BRITISH PRIME MINISTER. RUGBY. January 20. The long-awaited statement of Government policy was made by the Pnmo Minister at the close of the final plenary session of the Indian Round-Table Conference. Mr MacDonald said: —

“The view of the Government is that responsibility for the government of India should he placed upon the Legislatures, central and provincial, with such provisions as are nccessaiy to guarantee during the period of transition observance ol certain obligations, and to meet other special circumstances, and also with such guarantees as are required hv minorities to protect their political liberties and rights. In such statutory safeguards as may he made for meeting the needs of the'transitional period, it will ho the primary concern of his Majesty’s Government to see that the reserved powers are so framed and exercised as not to prejudice the advance of India through tlie new constitution to full responsibility for her own government. The Government, while making this declaration, is aware that some ol the conditions essential to working of such a constitution as is contemplated have not been finally settled, but believes that as a result of the work clone here, it has been brought to a point which encourages the hope that further negotiations, after this declaration will he successful.

Federal Government. “The Government has taken a note of the fact that the deliberations of the Conference have proceeded on the basis, accepted by all parties, that the Central Government should be a federation of all India, embracing both the Indian States and British India in a Federal Legislature. The precise form and structure of the new Federal Government must be determined after further discussion with the Princes and representatives of British India. The range of subjects to he committed to it will also require further discussion, because the Federal Government will have authority only in such matters concerning the States as will he ceded by their rulers in agreement made by them an entering into tlie ledcration. 'l’he connexion of States with the Federation will remain subject to tho basic principle that in regard to all matters not ceded by them to the Federation, their relations will he with the Crown, acting through the agency ot the Viceroy.

“With the Legislature constituted on a federal basis, the British Government will he prepared to recognise the principle of the responsibility of the Executive to the Legislature. Under existing conditions, the subjects of defence and external affairs will be reserved to the Governor-General, and arrangements will he made to place in his hands the powers necessary for the administration of those subjects. Moreover, as the Governor-General must as the last resort be able in an emergency to maintain the tranquility of tho State, and must similarly he responsible for the observance of the constitutional rights of minorities, ho must he granted the necessary power for those purposes.

Finance. “As regards finance, the transfer of financial responsibility must necessarily i he subject to such conditions ns will j ensure the iulfilmcut of obligations incurred under the authority of the Secretary of State for India, and the maintenance unimpaired of the financial stability and credit of India. Subject to these provisions, the Indian Government would have full financial responsibility for the methods of raising the revenue and for the control of expenditure on non-reserved services. This will mean that, under existing conditions, the central Legislature and Executive will have some features of dualism which will have to he fitted into the constitutional structure. “The Governors of the Provinces will he constituted on the basis of full responsibility. Their Ministries will he jointly responsible to it. Provincial subjects will he so defined as to give them the greatest possible measure ol self-government. The authority of the Federal. Government will he limited to the provisions required to secure its administration of the Federal subjects defined in the constitution as of all-India concern. There will he reserved to the Governor only that minimum of special powers which is required in order to secure in exceptional circumstances the preservation of tranquillity and to guarantee the maintenance of the rights provided by statute for the Public Service and minorities.

Provincial Governments. “Finally, the Government considers that the institution in the provinces of responsible government requires both that the Legislatures should be enlarged and that they should he based on a more liberal franchise. In framing the constitution, the Government considers that it will .he its duty to insert provisions guaranteeing to the various minorities, in addition to political representation, that differences of religion, race, sect, or caste shall not in themselves constitute civic disabilities. “In the opinion of the Governfiient. it will ho file duty of the communities to come to agreement among themselves on the points raised by the Minorities Sub-Committee, but not settled here. During the continuing negotiations. such agreement ought to he reached, and the Government will ,on-

tinue to render what good' offices it can. “The Government will consider without delay a plan hv which our eo-on-eration may be continued, so that the results of our completed work may lie seen in a new Indian constitution. If. in the meantime, there is a response to the Viceroy’s appeal to those engaged at present in civil disobedience, and others, to Co-operate on the general lines of this declaration, steps will be taken to enlist their services, 1 ’