INDIAN AGREEMENT.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 134, 19 March 1931, Page 5

INDIAN AGREEMENT.

THE PICKETING PROVISION. BRITISH SPINNERS DISQUIETED. (United Press Association —Copyright). (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, March 18. 'A statement issued to-day'' by the Cotton Spinners and Manufacturers’ Association and the Federation of Master Spinners ’ . Association expressed disquiet .. at the provision in the recent agreement between the Viceroy and certain, political leaders, by which picketing is to he regarded as a legal form of propaganda/ if peacefully carried out, for economic and not political purposes. Although nominally directed against all foreign goods, the boycott has been anti-British, rather than anti-foreign, and one of the worst features was the fact that'it was supported by individuals, who had,extensive.interests in the Indian cotton industries, and who were undoubtedly profiting by it.—British Official Wireless.

DEBATE IN HOUSE OF LORIDS. INFLUENCE OF CONFERENCE. (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) LONDON, March IS. In the debate in the House of Lords on the situation in India, the Lord Chancellor (Lord Sankey) reviewed the events leading uprto the RoundTable Conference, results of the Conference and their'effect m India. He said that the delegates to the Conference were not plenipotentiaries. It was their responsibility to examine facts and make suggestions. Ihe federal Structure Sub-Committee s report therefore was purposely drafted so as to leave many questions open, but in his view there was no problem in India that was insoluble. It was perfectly possible to draft a Federal constitution fair and just to everybody, and with precedents before them, the combined wisdom of East atid West could, and would, do so. ' . Earl Peel (a former Secretary of State for India) said lie could not help feeling during the last few months that the Government had been too ready—he would not say to apologise for 'but not to take a stand on our position in India, which gave us nghts and laid upon us duties and responsibilities. - _ . , T . The Marquis of Reading (ex-Vice-roy). referring to the Viceroy’s “agreement with Gandhi, said that conditions in India were very greatly improved from the moment that agreement, which was brought about by the Round-Table Conference, was reached. The Conference therefore had enabled peace to be declared in India. He said that the Round-Table Conference definitely Improved the Indian outlook, removing mistrust and suspicions which had previously been giving Indian politicians concern. He paid a tribute to Baron Irwin’s work and his triumph of the agreement with Gandhi as an earnest of goodwill. , The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Lord Passfield), replying, said that the Government was guided entirely by Baron Irwin, in whom it had tlie fullest confidence. It desired the co-operation of all parties regarding India.