FUTURE OF INDIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 129, 13 March 1931, Page 5

FUTURE OF INDIA

DEBATE IN THE COMMONS.

THE CONSERVATIVE ATTITUDE.

GOODWILL AND UNDERSTANDING United Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.45' a.m.) LONDON, March 12. Opening the debate on India in the House of Commons, Mr Stanley Baldwin declared that the Conservative Party on this question stood exactly where it did on January 2G, when a statement, which had not yet lie on challenged, was made by Lord Peel, and it stood exactly where it stood in the speech lie delivered last week. “Our main, objective is clear, namely, the objective of an All-India Federation,” said Mr Baldwin. “At present they had only the framework of the scheme to consider. The details had not been filled in, and apart from si pledge to make an honest endeavour to overcome inevitable difficulties, liis party was not committed.” Proceeding, Mr Baldwin expressed the confident hope that the Government would not think of effecting any major changes in the existing contribution while all those great questions discussed at the Conference were still in process of negotiation. Referring’ to the conversations between the Viceroy and Gliandi, Mr Baldwin deprecated the use of such words as “victory” and “surrender.” Such a conclusion to the conversation as had been reached could not have been reached in circumstances by any other Englishman than laud Irwin. It was a great tribute to his character, which had given him in India a prestige that nothing else could have afforded him. They could not judge thf ultimate effect yet. Extremism in India or at home died hard and slowly, but whatever happened the settlement had definitely enlarged the area of goodwill and of co-operation. The question of .the constitutional Government of India was by far the most important and the most difficult Imperial question we ever had to face More important even than party unity was the unity of all parties on this subject. He was firmly convinced that writings such as had appeared in the “Daily Mail” would do more to lose India fior. the Empire than anything else. Tpie ultimate result depended, not ort force, but on goodwill, sympathy and understanding between India and the Government of Great Britain and the great work of Lord Irwin. He did not believe the bulk of .the Conservative Party in the House of Commons, or the country took a different view from that expressed by Viscount Peel and himself at Newton Abbott. So long as he was there he would carry out that policy in no niggardly spirit. The Secretary of State lor India fCaptain Wedgwood Benn) said that jjr Baldwin’s words would be read witn relief and delight in India. The delegates to the Round-Table Conference had returned convinced of the good faith of the British Parliament, and so were able to explain the work of the conference to their countrymen. As a, result the area of co-operation had been extended. It was understood that Gliandi’s policy was to substitute cooperation for non-co-operation, and lie said lie would strain every nerve to make the provisional settlement permanent. The result of "the conversations had been received with univei-j sal approval in India, and had resulted in a marked improvement in trade. Iho atmosphere created was one in which it would he very much easier to solve the problem that had hitherto baffled them. It was the earnest desire of the Government to continue with the least possible interruption the constitutional discussions of the Round-Table Conference. They would seek the cooperation of the leaders of every party in re-establishing contact with the Indian side of the Conference, and as soon as the Indian delegates, including the representatives of the Congress, were prepared for discussion they proposed to invite them to London .to resume the work of the Federal Relations Committee. They hoped the committee’s ' deliberations would progress here during the summer, and meanwhile the expert investigation of the particular problems recommended by the Round-Table Conference would he undertaken. By these means the whole problem would be, they hoped, ready for final discussion early in the autumn.

MR BALDWIN CHEERED. A STRIKING PERORATION. \ ''Received This Day, 1.45 p.m.) LONDON, March 12. When the debate on India commenced, the galleries of. the House oi Commons were crowded with visitors, including many turhaned Indians. Mr Baldwin’s chief passages were much cheered, particularly his roierences to the “Daily ’Mail” and his striking peroration: “ If there are those, and if there is a majority of our party, who would approach the subject in a higgling, grudging spirit, who would have forced from their reluctant hands one grudging concession after another—in God’s name lot them choose a man to load them,” said Mr Baldwin. “If tlier? is a minority, let them at least refrain from throwing difficulties in the way» of those who have undertaken the almost superhuman task, upon the successful fulfilment of which depends the well-being, prosperity and duration of the whole Empire.” CONGRESS LEADS EMBARRASSED. .PROVIDING FOR THE RELEASED. (Received This Day, 8.30 a.m.) CALCUTTA, March 12. Messages- from Bombay indicate that the sudden release from prison, oi over 4000 Congress volunteers has seriously embarrassed the leaders. ’{lie volunteers, who were trained in disobedience and supplied with their needs bv Congress leaders, were housed and clothed. They arc now faced with unemployment and have no resources.