INDIA DEBATE

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1932, Page 5

INDIA DEBATE

BRITISH’ POLICY

STATEMENT EY SIR S. HOARE.

(British OfJic 'LI Wireless.)

RUGBY, December 22

Sb - S. Home made a statement on India during the debate on adjournment .in the He .said that >-o far as he could judge, the situation in India was definitely better. Th c Ottawa agi' fc emont had been passed by the. Assembly, by 7? to 25 votes—very significant evidence of goodwill between th e Indian, legislature and the Imperial Parliament.

As to the emergency orders he had always hated them, and none wished to »se o them imposed 'unless absolutely necessary. He was glad to be ab’e to announce that as far as h e could see, by the beginning of the New Year there need be no further emergency orders.

Referring to th e suggestion of a p:V>7ioui.3 Opposition speaker that there had been a change in the Government's attitude toward the Indian Conference Sir S. Hoar© said he could say quite categorically there was tio difference at all. They were Lying to get exactly tno same results as before. A great measure of agreement had been reached, not only between the Governments in Britain and India, ibut also with th Indian delegation in London. The Government would do everything in its power to increase the forces of goodwill, and would show willingness to co-operate with India, .if India would co-operate with them.

With regard to the labour conditions revealed in the Whit])ey report. Sir S. Hoare said .the administration of labour questions was a transferred subject, and the India Office therefore had little or .no control, but his advisers and himself were fully alive the need for great improvement, and all the influence they could ixert would be in the- direction of helping both the Central and Provisional Governments to do evervthng possible to raise the standard of labour conditions generally.

Afte r the debate, in which (besides India, various aspects of unemployment problems and the working •ot the coai quota were discussed, the Commons rose later this afternoon until February 7, power being ;; ven the Speaker, however, to call the House together earlier, if required by the public interest.

SEPARATION FROM INDIA.

BURMESE MOTION REJECTED.

(Received 10.15 a.m.)

CALCUTTA, December 23.

At the conclusion of six days of excited debate, the Burma Legislative Council rejected, by a majority of ten. in tlio House of one hundred members, a motion urging separation from Lidia and recommending a conference to define Burma’s future constitution.

A motion proposing Burma’s entry into the Indian Federation with the right of secession was carried. This is likely to be agreed to by the British Government, as the last days have been reached of the Round Table Conference which decided on the future constitution of Federated India, not including Burma.

The Premier has already stated that a conditional entry into the Federation, is impossible.