STATUS OF INDIA

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 51, Issue 143, 30 March 1931, Page 5

STATUS OF INDIA

v. THE QUESTION OF SAFEGUARDS.

ATTITUDE OF BRITAIN.

READY TO CONSIDER SCHEMES.

(United Press Association—Copyright). LONDON, March 27. A newspaper report that Mr Wedgwood Benn (Secretary of State for'lndia) had sent a personal telegram to Mahatnia Gandhi was officially denied in London to-day. The published statement that in any future. Round-Table Conference constitutional safeguards would be regarded as being entirely open to discussion was described \as a distortion of the true position. This was touched upon by the Viceroy (Baron Irwin) in a speech at a farewell banquet in his honour at New Delhi last night. He said that the safeguards suggested at the Round Table Conference had l>een subjected to some criticism and misunderstandings. Indian opinion was surely not less anxious than any opinion in Great Britain to see ample security provided where necessary for the good of India in the sphere of credit and finance. It was the considered yiew of His Majesty's Government that in the interest of India it was imperative to provide effective safeguards for the maintenance of financial stability and for the protection of India's credit. The Government had reached the conclusion that to secure this purpose the financial safeguards discussed •at the RoundTable Conference were essential. If, however, in the course of further discussions on the constitution any of those taking part in them desired to suggest other financial, safeguards the Government, in accordance with the terms of the statement issued on March 5 by the Governor-General-in-Council, would not wish to limit their right to do so and would l>e prepared to give such suggestions careful consideration. Acceptance by the Government of such alternative suggestions would depend on the ability of those proposing them to convince the Government that they would be equally effective for the purpose described. Lord Irwin said that only a shallow critic would undervalue the powerful aud promising framewiork which the Round-Table Conference had prepared.—British Official Wireless.

CONGRESS CONFIRMS AGREEMENT.

GANDHI TO HEAD DELEGATION

DELHI, March 28. The Congress Working Committee at Karachi passed a resolution confirming the Delhi agreement between the Viceroy (Baron Irwin) and Gandhi. It also carried a vote of confidence in Gandhi and appointed him head of the conference delegation to London. Other resolutions reaffirmed the goal of complete independence with control of the Army, foreign relations, finance and fiscal policy, and the release of all political prisoners. The Nau Jaw an Cash a, or Youth. League, which includes frontier Bolshevists, wearing red coats with their insignia of hammer and sickle, attacked the Delhi agreement and Congress policy. They outlined a programme, including an intensive boycott of British goods.