CLOSING SESSION

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 January 1931, Page 7

CLOSING SESSION

INDIAN CONFERENCE KING’S MESSAGE GRATIFICATION AT PROGRESS (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, 19th January. At the commencement of the closing session of the Indian Conference a message was received from the King expressing gratification at the progress made and hoping that the outcome would restore peace and contentment through India.

At the close of the final plenary ses- j sion Mr Ramsay MacDonald presented the Govei’nment’s statement, which was to the effect that the responsibility for the Government of India should be placed on the legislatures, central and provincial, with certain provisions to take effect during the transitional per-iod,-the subjects of defence and external affairs to be reserved for the GovernorGeneral, and transfer of financial responsibility to be subject to such conditions as would ensure the fulfilment of obligations incurred under the authority of the Secretary of State, and the maintenance unimpaired of financial stability and credit of India. Governors of provinces will be constituted on the basis of full responsibility. The Government considers it to be its duty to insert provisions to protect minorities, and during further negotiations will do all it can to expedite them. Just as Rangitsinhji, after reading the King’s message, announced it was signed by His Majesty’s own hand, the Coldstream Band in the Tapestry room next to the conference chamber, struck up the National Anthem. Sultan Ahmed shouted: “Three cheers for the King-Emperor,” which were given full-throatedly, followed by cheers for Messrs MacDonald, Benn and Lord Sankey.

While the conference was breaking up amid much hand-shaking the Coldstream Band played “Auld J.ang Syne.”