FINAL SESSION.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 16, 20 January 1931, Page 7

FINAL SESSION.

INDIA CONFERENCE.

Final Speeches Strike Hopeful

Note.

WORK TO BE CONTINUED

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 1 p.m.)

RUGBY, January 19.

The India Round Table Conference ended to-day. The first business of the morning was the final meeting of the Minorities Sub-Committee. The report of this body "was adopted by the full committee of the conference.

The first speaker at the final plenary session was the Maharajah Patiala, who said: "We join without hesitation in asking that our country should require that honourable status within the Empire which can alone satisfy- the aspirations of her sons. We have a great stake in the country. We should be the first to suffer if chaos and anarchy were to ensue. ''Administrative breakdown in India would involve us far more quickly and far more fatally than it could involve any political party in Britain. If, after full consideration of all the circumstances and bearing in mind our own position, our great responsibilities and the magnitude of our stake in the country, we are prepared to accept for ourselves and to recommend to our brother Princes for their acceptance the arrangements which we have been devising during these many weeks, need anyone in Britain hesitate?" i

Tory Attitude. Lord Peel said the most outstanding fact of the conference had been the great change of opinion that had brought the conception of a federal India from the realm of dreams to a state of reality. Explaining the attitude of the Conservative section of the British delegates, he said that they had tried to divest thenselves of the passion for precedent and had suggested that the conference might -well consider the SwLs or American plan rather than the transference, wholesale, of British parliamentary methods to Delhi.

They put forward the idea that a selfgoverning syste.— for the provinces should at once be put into action, so 'that the responsible Ministers of those provinces should add their experience to that of this conference in approving or modifying the new constitution.

It tvas a matter of regret that no eettlement had yet been reached on the great communal difficulty, but it was manifest that unless a satisfactory agreement was concluded the success of any future constitution must be gravely jeopardised. Again the just claim of the depressed classes of the Anglo-Indian community and other minorities must be satisfied.

Liberal Delegation's View. Lord Reading said that when the idea of federation sprang into being the whole aspect changed and the Liberal delegation thereupon studied the problem from a new angle. Federation could not proceed unless the principle of responsibility at the centre • was accepted. Without it the Princes would not move towards federation. True to Liberal traditions they "wished to travel in the direction of responsibility, but felt it necessary to stipulate that certain safeguards and reservations be introduced.

They had expressed plainly . their definite support for responsibility at the centre provided safeguards were adequate and the new, constitution workable. Having expressed a desire for Hindu-Moslem accord and proper protection for all. minorities, Lord Reading said that he hoped when the British Indian delegates returned they would be able to convince their compatriots, and that India may then walk in the ways of constitutional progress and development.

He added that riote, criire, terrorism and anarchy lead only to greater political disturbance. Great Bmain will not te deterred from performing her duty of discharging her obligations uy ihioats of violence. She can and will be won, as she hopes to win India, by sympathy, good will and co-operation, by working together as willing partners in the beet interests of India and the Empire.

.After speeches from other delegates a resolution adopting all committee reporte was passed. It described them as embodying a substantial measure of agreement on the main cfburid plan and many helpful indicant.-" ol points of detail to be further pursued. .

The resolution added: "The conference feels that arrangements eliould be made to pursue -without interruption the Wirk upon which it has been engaged, including provision in the constitution of adequate safeguards for ifcj! Mu*(sUlman depressed classes, Sikhs and all other important minorities." . ■

Just as Ranjitsinhji, after reading the King's message at the close of the session, announced that it was signed by •His Majesty's own hand, the Coldstreain Band, in the Tapestry Room, next to the Conference Chamber, struck up the National Anthem, Sultan Ahmed shouted "Three cheers for tho King-Emperor.'-' which were given in a full-throated manner, followed by cheers for Mr. MacUonaJr!, Captain Wedgwood Benu, Secretary for India, and. Lord Sankey.

While the conference was b -eakiEg up amid much, hand shaking, the Band played "Auld Lang Syne."

OUT OF BOUNDS.

CALCUTTA EX-MAYOR GAOLED.

(Received 12 noon.)

DELHI, January 19.

In an unobtrusive wayside station in East Bengal, called Amnura, Subhas Chandra Bose, Mayor of Calcutta, was arrested for disobeying an crder prohibiting Lim entering the Malda district. He was tried on the spot, and after 15 minutes' hearing by a deputy magistrate was sentenced to seven days' simple imprisonment. . '