INDIA DIVIDED.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 57, 9 March 1931, Page 7

INDIA DIVIDED.

PEACE SETTLEMENT.

Extremists Condemn Gandhi Agreement.

LEADER'S FIRM STAND,

(United P.A.—Electric Telegraph—Copyright)

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

CALCUTTA, March S.

India has joined whole-heartedly in supporting the terms of the Delhi agreement, although the members of the Youth League and Labour leaders representing the extreme Aving of the Indian National Congress in Bombay condemn the settlement as a betrayal and a lowering of the flag of independence. Gandhi declared that he would get the agreement ratified by the All-India Congress, whic-li meets at-Karachi at the end of the present month. If the younger men are dissatisfied with what the Working Committee has done, they could move a no-confidence motion and carry on tiie Congress work themselves; In an interview Gandhi said swaraj (homo rule)' meant complete self-govern-ment, and did not exclude association with any nation, much less Britain. It was quite compatible with India remaining within the Empire, but her partnership with Britain must be 011 terms of absolute equality. Ghandi said he and other Nationalist leaders would press for independence at the second Round Table Conference, the first- part of which he would prefer to be held in India and the second part in London. Thousands of political prisoners am bsing released daily, and already trade is beginning to look up.

CONSERVATIVE POLICY. SPEECH BY MR. BALDWIN. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, March S. Mr. Stanley Baldwin, speaking at Newton Abbots said; "So far from contemplating the weakening of the bonds uniting Britain and India, we wish to bring about a closer union than ever before. It is upon this task that we are now engaged.

"At present *va have only sketched the fraihework of the problem, and the details are not filled in The Conservative party is not committed, apart from the pledge of an honest attempt to confront the difficulties. Everyone is uncommitted because it is impossible to pronounce a definite opinion until a definite plan is submitted."

Mr. Baldwin added that for the first time moderation in India itself had triumphed over extremism, indicating that there were men of moderation in India who could be sure of the goodwill and honestv of Britisli statesmen.

Speaking at Birmingham, Mr. Neville Chamberlain said the agreement with India- gave grounds for genuine, if sober, satisfaction. i'h* Viceroy had carried through what, to people who knew the Indian circumstances best, seemed to be almost a miracle.

DAMAGES PRESTIGE.

LORD LLOYD'S VIEW,

(British Official Wireless.) RUGBY) March 8

Lord Lloyd., former Governor of Bombay, described the conversations as damaging to the prestige of every European government in the East.