MUCH TO BE DONE

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 18, 22 January 1931, Page 7

MUCH TO BE DONE

INDIA CONSTITUTION.

Conference Results Merely Basis

Of Complete Whole.

DECIDED STEP FORWARD,

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 12.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, January 21,

Now that the Round Table Conference has ended the Indian delegates are returning home to explain in greater detail the prospects it has opened for the'new Indian Constitution, and to continue, it is hoped, efforts to reach a settlement of the communal difficulties.

The Indian problem promises also to be in the forefront of the political discussions in this country. A White Paper on the conference is to be issued by the Government in a few days, and a debate on the subject will probably take place in the House of Commons during the next week.

After the conciliatory speech at the last plenary session by Lord Peel, the declaration of Mr. Baldwin is awaited with especial interest.

Last night the Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald, during his broadcast speech on the conference, said: "Although the conference has ceased its sittings in London, work will be at once begun upon its findings and unsolved questions. Upon the foundations that have been laid, the superstructure, complete in detail, will have to be built up."

He emphasised that the holding of the conference was not a sign of weakness by the British authorities in the face of civil disorders. These indeed had placed difficulties in the way o r its taking place. The conference was a sequel to the assurances given by Kings and Queen?, Viceroys and British statesmen that increasing powers of self-government should be gradually given to India. '

"My conference colleagues are returning home, not only with political proposals in their 'pockets, but with what is far more valuably the conviction that Britain is genuinely unlisted in the cause of Indian self-government and that we are only concerned with how it can be carried to practical success."

Mr. Lloyd George, speaking at a Liberal dinner to the Indian delegates, associated the whole Liberal party with Lord Reading's declaration that, while the goal was a long way off, difficulties here and in India were not to be underrated. He was convinced that public opinion without distinction of party would be prepared to go the whole length of the conference proposals, if all went well in India during the next few months.

Criticism of the proceedings at the conference was expressed last night by Mr. \yinston Churchill, who said that the eloquent, well-meant speeches at the closing session might not represent a very large body of British and Conservative opinion.

Lord Brentford foresaw in the event of self-government .being granted to India, riot, bloodshed, and the destruction of all that Britain had done for the well-being of millions of Indians who were not political and desired to live in peace, happiness and security.

PLOT SCOTCHED.

Alleged Attempt to Overthrow

British Rule.

TRIAL AT BOMBAY,

DELHI, January 21

Amazing disclosures of an alleged plot to establish a national Government at Bombay were made at the trial of 25 members of the Indian Congress, who were arrested on Christmas Day. Papers were found revealing that the headquarters of the movement were near Government House. Plans had been made to kill police officers and Government officials, burn police stations and arm and incite villagers as a preliminary to a general revolution.

Several of the accused men were to have been Ministers in the proposed Government.

Another plan was to induce Indians to embarrass the Government by boycotting post offices, savings banks and Government loans, and by cashing Treasury bills and postal certificates.