INDIA CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 2 December 1931, Page 5

INDIA CONFERENCE

bl AN Y DELEGATES EXPRESS . THEIR VIEWS.

FEDERAL STRUCTURE

(British Ojficiul Wireless.)

RUGBY, November 29

In order, that every aspect of the work of the Indian Round-Table Conference might be open to discussion during the final plenary session, Lord Sqnkey and the Prime Minister began proceedings by formally proposing the adoption of the reports of the Committees on Federal Structure and Minorities.

Some of the delegates have had, to return to India, but there was a full attendance of those who remained.

The Prime Minister, as chairman of the ' Minorities Committee, presented their report, which recorded with deep regret that no agreement had been leachecl on the difficult controversial questions before it. The Prime Minister also mentioned that, his conditional invitation to members to request him I to intervene was not accepted, and added: “1 want to say with very definite conviction tWat this problem can be solved still. I am as hopeful as J. was at the beginning that by further work, by the exercise of goodwill, by facing the actual facts of the situation, and with the exercise of the wellknown pride of the Indian representatives, that they will find a way out of this very troublesome situation.” The Raja of Korea urged that the States classified as second olass, numbering 126, and third class, numbering 327, which had no seat in the Chamber of Princos, were entitled to better recognition, than they had hitherto been granted. Sir A. P. Patro said that the ideal of federation could not bo realised without a long process of adjustment and negotiation. His experience was that a diarchy was a isound plan ”n. the evolution of responsible government. There should be responsibility in a central government immediately, along with fully responsible provinces, otherwise Indian opinion would consider it was getting the shadow without the substance.

Nawab Sir Adbul Qaiyum made an impassioned plea on behalf of the North West Frontier Province for equal status with the other provinces. INDEPENDENCE OPPOSED.

Sir C. Jehangir said that he for one would fight as long as he lived agianst independence, or severance of the connection between Britain an India.

Dr. Law, referring to anarchism in Bengal declared that the right way to stamp out terrorism was to ensure that the final outcome of the Conference was a full measure for self-government, thus removing all grounds for discontent. .

The Nawab of Bhopal said that the work of the Confernce had convinced him that the only solution of the complex problems lay in. the creation of an All-India federal constitution. Notwithstanding unfortunate impressions, mistakes, and even failures, nothing could quench the flame of India’s legitimate desire to he an equal partner in the British Commonwealth, Ho urged continuance of the work, the foundations of which were weTl laid in January.

The Maharaja of Darblianga, speaking on behalf of the landlord class, said that that class should have . an electorate and a quota of seats in the central as well as the provincial legislatures.

LABOUR VIEW. Mr Giri said that Indian Labour representatives were not against the federal form of government, hut were concerned that it should be truly representative of all the people, and not consist only of ' the wealthier classes and nominees of the Princes. Khan Hafiz Hidayat Husain said that the Moslems must insist as condition precedent ot joining in the new constitution that there should he safeguards for and a settlement of the communal problem, either by. mutual agreement or, failing that, by the Government.

Raja Narendra Nath spoke against the establishment of provincial autonomy without responsibility at the centre. He said that the former involved a problem as difficult as the latter.

Sir Hubert' Carr, of the European section of the British Indian delegation, said that his colleagues, and he liimself, were emphatically opposed to the description of the Conference as a failure. They felt that the deliberations during the past year had led to a very remarkable degree of agreement. ' They stood firmly for such financial safeguards as would enable India to preserve her credit, and they did so without fear of being suspected of wanting to hold India hack from lfer natural constitutional progress. They much preferred to see provincial autonomy instituted previous to any change at the centre. They realised, however, that there was not such confidence existing between India. and Britain to day for India to he content with merely provincial autonomy, and the declared intention of development at - the centre. They were therefore united with their fellow'Plognte? in demanding that the whole framework of federation and provincial autonomy he determined at the same time. CASTES IN SECOND PLACE. Nirdar Jrnnandidash expressed the firm conviction that once confidence was restored and all suspicion removed. factors of community, caste and creed would take on'v n secondary place in India’s political, life. That was the spirit of the younger generation, on whom would soon rert the responsibility of working and develWy-

ing the new constitution. l He paid a tribute to the manifestations of the British Government’s sincerity. Mr S. C. Borooah also-insisted that the Conference, far from being a failure, had been a great success. The points on which they had agreed outnumbered tile disagreements, which might now be left to 'the sagacity and fairness of British statesmen for satisfactory settlement.

NO AGREEMENT REACHED

PRIME MINISTER’S APPEAL

RUGBY, December 1

The final plenary session of the Indian Conference began this morning. Oome of the delegates ’ have had to return to India, but there was a full of those who remained, with the Prime Minister as Chairman.

The Minorities Committee presented its report, which recorded with* deep regret that no agreement had been reached on the difficult controversial questions before it.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that his conditional invitation to tho members to request him to intervene was not accepted, and added: “ 1 want to say, with very definite conviction, that this problem can be solved. Still. [I am as hopeful as 1 was at the beginning, that by further work, by the exercise of good will, by facing the actual facts of the situation; and" with the exercise of the well known pride of the Indian representatives, they will find a way out of this very troublesome situation.”

GANDHI’S DEMAND

FOR AU TONOMY IN EMPIRE

LONDON, December 1

The ‘ Indian Round Table Cabinet sat for three hours until midnight, when Mr MacDonald flasuined the Presidency of the Conference. Mr Gandhi said that the Indian National Congress . represented the spirit of rebellion, or whatever name they like to call it. He said : ‘‘l want independence. Ido not want to break the bond belt ween Britain and India, but that bond must 'be based on freedom, f do not want to revive civil disobedience. I want' to convent the truce into a Tasting peace. But there is no solution while the foreign rule wants the princes "to become constitutional rulers like King George.”

Mr Gandhi' here appealed to the British Government not to be blind to tho changed India, or to the writing on 'the wall. Sir S. Sastri appealed to Air Gandhi not to return to the arid field of non-co-operation. "Your duty is with us,” he said, m Mr MacDonald, nr 2.15 a.m., describing Sir S. Sastri’s appeal as irresistible, announced that the' Confeience would adjourn till 11.50 a.m.

NEW POLICY IN BENGAL

CALCUTTA,; November 30,

The Government’s measures to quell the Terrorist, movement in Bengal were announced by the Governor (Sir F. S. Jackson).

He declared it was obvious that the present laws were insufficient to deal with the menace, and an ordinance was being issued by the Viceroy to-night, giving the Bengal Government wider powers which it was hoped would kill the movement. Special tribunals would deal with (terrorist crime, and would mete' out swift justice, and those arrested for attempted political murders would pay the death penalty. Prisoners detailed without trial as" suspected revolutionaries would be removed to other provinces. Military action would be taken in areas which were hotbeds 'Ol the movement. An initial move is being made to transfer a force, from Chittagong to round up suspects.