INDIA’S AMBASSADOR.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 June 1922, Page 5

INDIA’S AMBASSADOR.

MR. SASTRI IN AUSTRALIA. FULL CITIZENSHIP CLAIMED. Sydney, June 7. Mr. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri, one of the most remarkable personalities in India and in the wider sphere of world politics, is making a tour of Australia, at the invitation of the Commonwealth Government. Speaking at a civic reception tendered to him in Perth, Mr. Sastri said that nine out of every ten Indians loved the British Commonwealth, but a •few causes potent for mischief existed. One of the drawbacks to the solidarity of the Empire related to India and to her people. India asked Australia to strike down anything standing in the way of India's complete equality with the Commonwealth. His countrymen spoke to him of disabilities owing to the white people's prejudice against colored nations, but he felt that he had only to state the case fairly to have things set right. The people of Australia were determined to keep India within the British Commonwealth. The Australians should give an assurance that, if future generations of India threw, in their lot with the British Commonwealth they would not be imperilling their self-respect, their right to national existence, or the national recognition of the Indian population.

He did not think it much to ask that the Indians already in Australia should be admitted to full rights of citizenship. His countrymen had no intention of interfering with the economic integrity of Australia, or placing India’s surplus population on the waste spaces which Australia was keeping to herself. • India had given her word; she was ; perfectly willing that Australia shouldI resist immigration from India; what Ihe wanted was equality of citizenship, for his countrymen already in Australia. They were so few in number that they would not in any way endanger the growth o-f Australia, ft seemed a> small thing, but, in its ulterior significance, it was great and momentous.. If his request was granted, it would be a striking proof to his countrymen, whose minds were in a delicate condition, owing to certain political events, that their status was assured, and that they could step forward to take their; place among the men of the British Commonwealth. Indians resident- in Australia have made the following points of complaint, which Mr. Sastri "is investigating: (I) Why are Indians debarred from Government positions? (2) Why are Indians debarred from receiving old-age pensions, Adieu they pay both rates and taxes?- (3) As British subjects, why should Jndk us be debarred from obtaining miners’ rights? (4> Why should not Indians long resident in the State be entitfed to vote? are Indians debarred from working m the : canefields, wh> e Japanese, Chinese, i Greeks, Germartk and other ahens are 1 flowed, to do