TO CARRY ON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 285, 2 December 1931, Page 7

TO CARRY ON.

CONFERENCE WORK.

Efforts to Solve Outstanding

Problems.

GOVERNMENT PLANS.

(British Official Wireless.)

(Received 1.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, December 1

Mr. Mac Donald, in addressing the India Conference, said the next step in the development of India's future constitution would be through'committees Avorking in India. A working committee of the Round Table Conference Svas to be nominated to remain in being in India and the Governors were to keep in effective touch with it through the Viceroy.

Three other committees, whose appointment the conference recommended be set up as soon as possible, were to deal with financial and franchise problems under the chairmanship of distinguished public men from Britain.

Mr. Mac Donald declared that the great strides which had been made at the conference a year ago and now, had enabled them to mobilise the goodwill of India and Britain Tor a solution of great historical problems of India. Gandhi's Wants. During the conference discussioff'yesterday, Gandhi said the Congress, represented a spirit of rebellion, call it whatever name they liked. "I want independence," he eaid. "I do not want to break the bond between Britain and India, but that bond must be friendship based upon freedom.

"I do not want to revive civil disobedience. I want to convert the truce into a lasting peace. There can be no solution while India is under foreign rule. I want the Princes to become constitutional rulers, like King George here." : -

Gandhi appealed to the British Government not to be blind to the changes in -India or to the writing on the wall.

Mr. Srinivasa Sastrl appealed to Gandhi not'to return to the arid fields of non-co-operation. ". "Your duty ia with us," he said.

At 2.15 a.m. Mr. Mac Donald, describing Mr. Sastri's appeal at irresistible, then announced the adjournment .of the conference.

The Prime Minister was thanked by Gandhi, Sir Abdul Quayum and the Nawab of Bhopal.

"Is it to be peacv or war?" Gandhi was asked after the conference. He replied: "I cannot say to-day." He added that the situation in India, especially in Bengal, was ugly. The Bengal ordinance showed that the Government .was panicky. The extraordinary powers of repression assumed seemed wholly inconsistent with the desire expressed in London to give India the freedom she wanted. .-