GANDHI’S CASE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 September 1931, Page 6

GANDHI’S CASE

INDIAN AUTONOMY.

IN BRITISH COMMONWEALTH.

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, September 15

At the Federal Structure Committee of the Indian Round-Table Conference, Mr Gandhi to-day gave an address, and stated his attitude of the National Congress of India. IT? declared that his paramount desire was a free and equal partnership of Great Britain and India. He had come to London in a spirit of co-operation to try his utmost to hud points <>i agreement. He assured the British Government that at no stage did lie wish to embarrass its authority. He was but the humble agent of the Indian National Congress. That Congress was the oldest political organisation in India. The idea of the Congress had originated with an Englishman. Allen Hume, and from the beginning all creeds had been represented in the Congress, and from the first it had recognised that until the current “untouchability” had been removed and community interests achieved between Hindus and .Moslems, full freedom could not exist. Mr Gandhi read the resolution passed by Congress in Karachi, favouring complete independence, subject to each adjustments as might be necessary ■in the interests of India. He said .that the Prime Minister’s statement on the considered policy of the Goernment fell far short of what was aimed at by the Congress. He had liberty to aecesuch adjustments as were clearly necessary in the Indian interests, but these must be consistent with the fundamentals set forth in bis mandate. If India asked for independence, it was not out of any arrogant desire for separation. The Congress intend ed a partnership, such as could exist between two absolute people, an k dissoluble partnership God-willed but not a partnership imposed by one nation upon another. Congress claim that either party should have tl right to dissolve the partnership. 1 must therefore, but of mutual benefit if such a partnership were formed between a nation famed for having fought slavery and protected the weak,, and a nation with an ancient history, representing two great cultures. Hindu and Moslem. If such partnership is possible, there must b ' auditing in the interests of both, countries. British people would never wish India to bear more than her fair burden, and India would never repudiate a single claim she should justly discharge. He desired nothin more than to see an honourable and equal partnership between Britain and India.

Pandit. Malavya. who also spoke for the first time, endorsed Mr Ganch In’s remarks.

The Muhammdan representative, iSr M. Sliafi. later, cordially welcomed Mr Gandhi’s presence and promised to co-operate, which he described as a happy augury. They hoped and believed his presence would lead to that communal sett’ement honourable to all parties, which was absolutely essential, not only for the success of the Conference ,but for the future of India.

Sir S. Hoare and Lord Reading welcomed the expressions of views, even when controversial; but thought it would be advisable not to reply to them at present, but to start to work out details of the All India Federation, within the British Empire, which constituted their terms of reference.

TECHNICALITIES TACKLED. The rest of the day was devoted to mainly technical questions of election to legislation. The general view from the British Indian side was that representations in the Upper House should be by nomination by (the States Governments, but that in the case of the Lower House," the Princes should devise a scheme of popular . representation similar to that of British Indian representations, :: The Maharajah of Bikener : said he .saw no objection- - to. attempting-some such solution, although its ■representation was a matter for:, the decision of each individual State . Sir M. Sliafi emphasised that any opinions he expressed were subject to the decisions of the minority subcommittee, on certain important communal questions, and to the claim of Moslems for thirty-three and a-third representation in the central legislature of India as a whole.