Allaying Suspicion

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 274, 9 February 1928, Page 11

Allaying Suspicion

COMMISSION TO INDIA “JOINT FREE CONFERENCE” SUGGESTED British Wireless — Press Assn.—Copyright RUGBY, Tuesday. The chairman of the Indian Commission, Sir John Simon, has addressed to the Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, a letter in which, in order to allay misconception he sets forth the intentions of the Commission. Sir John says lie understands that the Government of India and the local Governments have documents to put before the Commission. Instead of the Commission dealing with these documents by itself he proposes they shall be received with any explanation or amplification and then shall come before a “joint free conference,” over which he will preside. This conference, he suggests, shall consist of the seven British Commissioners, and a corresponding body of representatives to be chosen by the Indian Legislatures. Sir John continues: “We put forward this plan for a joint free conference not only because we should welcome the assistance of our colleagues from the Indian Legislatures, but because we think it is only right and fair, and in the truest interests of India and Britain alike, that an opportunity should be provided for such memoranda and testimony to be scrutinised, and if necessary elucidated from the Indian side on free and equal terms.” INDIAN REPRESENTATION Sir John suggests that the two Houses of the central Legislature should be invited to choose from their non-official members a Joint Committee, which might conveniently be seven in number, and that each locaj Legislative Council should be asked to constitute a similar body. The Indian side of the conference would consist (when central subjects were being dealt with), of those first named. At the provincial sittings the Indian wing would consist primarily of provincial members, but Sir John proposes that some of the members of the Central Joint Committee should be present. Also he urges that one of the merits of the method of a joint conference is that besides securing due recognition of equal status it provides an opportunity for the free exchange of views and mutual influence which are best calculated to promote the largest measure of agreement possible. COMMENT IN COMMONS The Prime Minister, Mr. Baldwin, read Sir John’s letter in the House of Commons to-day. The communication pointed out that the Commission is in no sense an instrument either of the British or the Indian Government, but an independent and unfettered body of members of the House of Commons, who are approaching the Indian legislators as colleagues. The commission is neither an executive nor a legislating body. It is only authorised to report and to recommend. It is hoped to include in the report a faithful account of the opinions and aspirations of Indians. If preferred the Indian Joint Committee’s report could be annexed to that of the Commission, and both could be presented to His Majesty and published simultaneously.—A. and N.Z.