NEW CONSTITUTION FOR INDIA

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1931, Page 7

NEW CONSTITUTION FOR INDIA

PROSPECTS OPENED UP. (Official WireJeso.) RUGBY, January 21. Now that the London Conference has ended, Indian delgait-es are returning home to explain in greater detail the prospects it has opened for a new Indian constitution, and. to continue, it is hoped, efforts to reach a settlement of the communal difficulties. The Indian problem promises also to be in the forefront of political discussions in this country. A White Paper on the conference is to be issued by the Government in a few days, and a debate thereon will probably take place in the Commons next week. After the conciliatory speech at the last plenary session by Lord Peel (head of the British Conservative delegation) a declaration from Mr Baldwin is awaited with special interest. MR MACDONALD’S BROADCAST. Last night the Prime Minister, during a broadcast speech on the conference, said: “Although It has caused sitting in London, work will be at once begun upon its findings and its unsolved questions. Upon the foundations laid, a superstructure complete in detail will have to be built up. He emphasised that the holding of the conference was not a sign of weakness by the British authorities in the face of civil disorders. These, indeed, had placed difficulties in the way of its taking place. The conference was a sequl to assurances given by Kings and Queens. Viceroys, and British statesmen, that increasing powers of self-government should he gradually given to India. His conference colleagues were returning home not only with political proposals in their pockets, but with what was far more valuable—a conviction that! Britain had genuinely enlisted in the cause of Indian selfgovernment, and was only concerned with bow it could be carried out to practical success. LIBERAL CO-OPERATION. Air Lloyd George, speaking at a Liberal dinner to the Indian delegates, associated the whole Liberal Party with Lord Reading’s declaration. While the goal was a long way off and the difficulties here and in India- must not be under-rated, lie was convinced that public opinion, without distinction of party, would be prepared to go the whole length of the conference’s proposals if all went well in India during the next few months. Criticism of the proceedings at the conference was expressed last night' by Mr Winston Churchill, who said the eloquent, well-meant speeches at the closing session might not represent a verv la rue body of British Conservative opinion; and by Lord Brentford who foresaw, in the event of self-gov-ernment being granted to India, riot bloodshed and the destruction of all Britain had done for the well-being of the millions of Indians who were not political, and who desired to live in peace, happiness and security.