INDIA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 November 1931, Page 3

INDIA CONFERENCE

GANDHI’S WISHES NOT MET

(United Press Association!—By Electric telegraph.—Copyright.'

LONDON, November 20

“End the preposterous India Conference!” .demands the “Daily Mail.” It says: “We appeal to Mr MacDonald to cease trying to reconcile India’s quarrelling sects, and revise the whom British attitude towards India in accordance with the wishes of the great majority- of ■ level-headed, patriotic Britons, who would not tolerate renunciation of our position in India.”

The paper declares : The Round Table Conference is fruitless. Its discussions only keep. India in:’constant agitation, and might at ally’ time cause a disastrous development, shaking the Empire.” .(iv;

The final Plenary will be held on November 27, enabling delegates, including Gandhi, to return home on December %h.

Now the only" prospect is that the who* upshot is likely to provincial autonomy, then later a general conference, after the Provincial Legislatures have settled down and appointed delegates. There is a general disbelief of the possibility of settling the communal question.

The Australian Press representative reliably understands that General Smuts made his appearance on the scene but not in >t,he' role.of arbitrator on Hindu-Mohammedan difficulties, but rather to help Mr MacDonald in the diiemma with Gandhi.on .the one hand, and the Conservatives on the other. General “Smuts before his departure for South Africa, said: “India is thd most dangerous of Britain s difficulties.” He believed in the-sincerity of‘ Mr Gandhi. Britain must go pretty far to satisfy India, and the sooner she does so the better.

Gandhi spent three hours on Tuesday discussing the situation' with Mr Lloyd George. The. discussion was continued by the Indian Round Tablg Federal Structure Committee on the safeguards which will be necessary in connection with the scheme of moderation, with responsibility at the centre. To-day s session was devoted to further speeches on the question of commercial discrimination.

Referring to the suggestion advanced by Mr Jazakar, that where a small company is trying to make its way against a powerful company, a special way may be found of dealing with the circumstances, Lord Reading said he hoped it would not be persisted in. What some Indian politicians had in mind was that there might be discriminating administration and legislation penalising powerful British concerns, so that Indian concerns might flourish. He would oppose it root and branch, and added, “Just as we here throw everything open, the right of entry, the right of trading and all' other' advantages, so we claim exactly .the same thing in India for the Bti-t-ish.”

Discussion on commercial discrimination will be concluded on -Monday, and the committee will . then take up ii* question of financial administration.

END DELAYED. WHAT DO COYSERYAPrVES PROPOSE? LONDON, November 21. It is understood that the question of the Indian Conference is being considered by the Cabinet, at to-day s meeting. The Prime Minister has been devoting mu 2*l tme during the i -sf • few days to Indian Confe; lire ntfauK. It had been confidently expected that in, view of th e failure of the delegates to settle the communal problem, the 'Conference would be brought to an end this week; but, in response to a desire for a Conference oi 1 some safeguards considered • necessary at the outset in any scheme oj : federation with responsibility at the centre, these proposed reserved subjects are still being debated in the. Federal ■Structure. .Committee.

The Prime Minister, during last week, had interviews with the Nawab of Bhopal, Mr Gandhi, the Aga , Khan, Sir Tej Sapru, and other leaders. Late last night,, there, were representations made to the Prime Minister and Mr Baldwin by a delegation representative of" the Conservative India Committee in Parliament.