INDIA

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 January 1931, Page 5

INDIA

ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE IMPORTANT DECISIONS REACHED (United Press Association—By Electrlo Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, 31st December. A momentous meeting of Conservative Liberal, and Labour members of the British delegation to the round table conference was held at Downing Street lust evening as a sequel to the weekend conference at Chequers. At the latter there were present, Mr MacDonald, Col. Wedgewood-Benn, officials of the India office, and experts from the conference. It is believed important decisions were reached and will form the broad lines of the Government’s policy. Mr MacDonald outlined the views formed by the Government after consultation with expert advisers. The “Daily Herald’s” special correspondent says that the principle of responsible self-government is already virtually agreed to, hut it is not stated by who. It is understood the Indian delegates are prepared to accept a limited period of reversion to vice-regal control, of defence, foreign relations, tire maintenance of Aden, and the Persian Gulf protectorates. A more difficult question is the measure of financial control for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of British officials, ex-ofiicials and British creditors of the Government of India.

THE FEDERAL STRUCTURE

DISCUSSIONS CONTINUED

(British Official Wireless.

RUGBY, 31st December. At the round table conference to-day the Prime Minister presided over a meeting of the minorities sub-committee at which views were expressed on behalf of several smaller minorities communities, including Indian Christians, with special reference to the Catholic section, Parsee, Anglo-Inians and European business community. The committee then began consideration of the attitude of the large minorities, which will he continued to-morrow.

A meeting of the Federal Structure sub-committee under Lord Sankey this afternoon discussed the desirability of reserving special seats in the Legislature for representatives of certain classes with special interests. This was followed by a general discussion as to the methods by which representatives of the federal Legislature should be chosen. In some quarters it is advocated that members of the Upper House of the Legislature should be chosen by the provincial legislature, and those of the Lower House by direct election. In another quarter the view was expressed that direct election to both Houses should apply notwithstanding the difficulties in the way of carrying out an election. Another view was a definite opinion that this point should he postponed until the powers and functions of the two Houses and the relations of the legislature to the executive were decided. 0-ne of the British delegates suggested that the Upper House should be a chamber representative of the governments of the Federal units and that the Lower House should be representative of the provincial legislatures. The discussion will be continued on Friday. ■