India in the Balance

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 813, 6 November 1929, Page 9

India in the Balance

BID FOR DOMINION STATUS Conference Likely Soon HOUSE OF PEERS DEBATE British Official Wireless Received Noon. RUGBY, Tuesday. THERE was a large gathering of peers in the House of Lords this afternoon for a debate on Lord Reading's motion arising out of the Viceroy of India’s declaration about the future status of India in the Empire. Political feeling, as reflected in the Press, has now moved more strongly in the direction of avoiding a crisis and the Leader of the Opposition has intimated that the Indian question will be raised in the House of Commons on Thursday, not on votes of censure, but merely on a motion for adjournment of the House.

The “Manchester Guardian” says Mr. Baldwin, In his statement, will explain his position as far as may be necessary, but the effect of his speech will be to minimise the incident. This course, it is stated, wilt be in full accordance with the wishes of the majority of his followers, who desire as far as possible to relieve the Viceroy and the Simon Commission of unnecessary difficulties.

Reports from India continue to reveal that Lord Irwin’s statement is receiving widespread support, and the prospect of a conference between representatives of British and Indian States and the British Government, after the Simon report has been presented, has placated all parties. Several of the leading Indian princes have already definitely approved the proposal for a conference. EXTREMISTS PACIFIED The announcement of this project, together with a restatement of the ultimate purpose of the British policy, is reported to have had the effect of modifying the attitude of extremists. The Marquis of Reading, himself a former Viceroy of India, called atten-

tion in the House of Lords to a recent statement issued by the Viceroy of India, Lord Irwin, regarding the attainment, by India, of Dominion status, and asked the Government, firstly to state a reason for its extraordinary course of making this pronouncement without having consulted a statutory commission upon It and beforo commission had reported; secondly, whether conditions contained in the Declaration of 1917 to the Government of India Act, remain in full force and effect and applicable to Dominion status; and thirdly, whether this statement implies any change in the policy hitherto declared or in a time when this status may be attained.

Lord Reading said a change of procedure, whereby a conference of politicians representing all parties in India would be held before, and not after the Government had formulated its proposals, was very important. He welcomed it and hoped it would help to satisfy Indian opinion. Other parties approved it, hut when the Secretary for India, Dr. Drummond Shiels, made a further proposal that reference should be made to the future of India in language, or something approaching the language, used in the Viceroy’s statement, he at once took objection.

“Let me make it plain that neither I nor my party objects to Dominion status being regarded as an ideal which we eventually hope to reach in relation to the Government of India.”

He objected to the use of the term “Dominion status ’ because it had never appeared before in any document and because it would be impos-

Bible to make a statement of this character without the assent of the Simon Commission. Nevertheless, it was proposed by the Government that a statement should be made which must affect the prestige, influence and authority of the Simon Commission. He himself, when Viceroy, had been careful never to use the words “Dominion status.” The very phrase conjured up at once a position, to some extent at least, in advance of what might he ascribed to responsible Government. Such a phrase was liable to be misunderstood in India and by many people in this country. LLOYD GEORGE’S ATTITUDE

Mr. Lloyd George took exactly the same attitude as himself. The Conservative Party refused to assent to a statement regarding Dominion status on October 27. He wrote to the Secretary for India expressing his grave regret at the proposal of the Government and the Viceroy, to make the pronouncement. The statement, unless it was corrected, would be heralded throughout India as a promise to give Dominion status at once. He wanted the Government to make it clear, without any ambiguity, throughout India, that the language used by the Government in the pronouncement was only an interpretation of the ultimate goal to which India might attain when various obstacles were surmounted.

Lord Parmoor, replying for the Government, said he could find no ambiguity in the pronouncement. The Viceroy issued it in order that Indian opinion might be educated, and that Indians who were doubtful before, would now have full assurance as it regarded the political and constitutional future. Nothing could be clearer in the pronouncement of the Viceroy than that reservations in the Declaration of 1919 were retained without altering and without exception. Though Dominion status was the ultimate goal of the Government, and the Viceroy drew a distinction between purpose and means, whereby that goal might be reached, the purpose remained unaltered and unchanged. The question of policy with respect to the time in which Dominion status might be attained, could not be considered and ought not to be considered until a statutory commission and the Indian Central Committee had submitted their reports and the Government, in consultation with the Government of India, had considered those matters in the light of material available, and furthermore, until after a meeting or conference it was intended to summon. Lord Parmoor contended that the pronouncement in no way undermined the authority" of the Simon Commission. The Government was well advised in leaving the commission alone. In making a statement of policy of this kind, it would be wrong If it should be thougt in India that there was no special connection between the Government, for the time being, and the Simon Commission dealing with reasons for making such a pronouncement, without having consulted a statutory commission. Lord Parmoor said it was considered by the Government with full concurrence of the Viceroy, that in view of the impending open invitation to representatives of British India and Indian States to attend a conference, it was very desirable to restate clearly what was the purpose of Great Britain in regard to the Government of India.

It was ascertained the commission was averse from being associated in correspondence in which this reaffirmation should appear and the Government decided it should be made in a document. The Government was aware the statutory commission did not wish to be so associated, but did not think that precluded them from making a reaffirmation. They had the deepest anxiety to do nothing which would in any way prejudice the position of the statutory commission.