INDIA AND THE EMPIRE-

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20089, 19 November 1930, Page 11

INDIA AND THE EMPIRE-

CONFERENCE OPENS. pleas FOR dominion STATUS. REFORM or CONSTITUTION. orrrciAL BUGBY, November 17. When the plenary session of the In-land-Table Conference opened 1 the Prime Minister (Mr :iiS tTstadJonald) read a message SJffl 'Tord Stamfordham (his Majesty * : 'rirtte secretary), stating that the King ' Jlceivcd with much nut is taction the Innication expressing the dutiful ."uH of tho Conference to the King Undertaking the opening ceremony, A to the Queeu for the kindly solicitor Majesty had displayed towards '•"g.forTlhe meeting proceeded with „ f .«nda prepared by the Business Committee of the Conference, the 1 nine extended a cordial welcome to He said they must keep ;« mind two things: First, the> were ,'v er e to co-operate together; and, sec('rj they m ust be animated by the to succeed.

An interesting discussion was provoted by the recommendation of the Easiness Committee that the question jjoald be debated whether the future {M titntion of India should be on a <»<ierai or a unitary basis. It was sug fMted that the general trend of sucli a discussion would enable the Conferee with the help of the committee, to frjise a programme for future discusjiofl in committee. The Prime Minister indicated that he would, as chairman, rule that a liberal interpretation be put upon the committee's report, and would allow the delegttM to refer to cognate questions. Status of Equality. Opening the general discussion upon tie future constitution of India, Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru said it was perfectly autaral that such a country as his, brought into contact with Western idea*, vibrating with the now movement it the Eaßt, should seek freedom withia its own borders. As an integral part of the British Commonwealth, India iranted, and was determined to achieve, tie status of equality with the other three members of the Commonwealth, wSieh would give it a Government not aerely responsible, but responsive to, tba popular voice. Ho emphasised that tie ordinary Parliamentarian had uither the necessary time nor the tapaeity and vision to understand India's mind and feelings. Even the Secretary of State for India, no matter low distinguished he might be, was in that position, consequently he relied on the advice of the India Office stall'. Therefore, India was not under Parliamentary sovereignty, but under that if half a dozen Civil servants in JSngtad, and another half a dozen in India. Jt could not be expected that India, ribrating with the new Eastern move--Jot, would remain content with such Si iNeroment. Si Tej Bahadur Sapru went on to «sj\!halhe personally believed it would Kit tats offer provincial autonomy unle» it *» coupled with a decided and elesr eiaage in the constitution of the witol Government, which must be made raj»KtMe to the Legislature. He was a (bat; believer in the federal'form of gMHUuent, and believed that therein tie lalvation of India. He would vehmt the association of the Indian States with British I dia mainly for tee waaons: they would furnish a stabiEiing factor in their constitution, tin process of unification would begin vithoat delay, and, in regard to defence they would furnish practical experience which was yet wanting in Muh India. Beferring to commerce, he said there *u not a single man at the Conference *i# would like to have any expropriator legislation. The Europeans were qoite welcome to suggest any safegaarda for their rights and interests, «ad the Indians would most willingly ■art them. Regarding the Army, they realiied that they had to train a suffitittt number of their own men, which *W4 require patience. What they required was the opportunity to train lira, and freedom to establish institutions. "8o far as your Army is concerned," j# i&id, "by all means keep it in the the Viceroy. We on our part at willing to provide funds, and to 'Jree to statutory charges in respect of ♦a® Ar©j\ M Federal System Suggested. The Maharajah of Bilcaner said the Mite attainment of Dominion status 2j! "kwent in the declaration of of 1917, and had more reJ received authoritative endorse■aat Let them aim at that, fully reaiw £ their sister States did not i»tt! si ea< * one st "de, and that, tne intervening stage, certain safeP«as and guarantees were imperaWJF necessary for the security of the t Pjktie, and all parts thereof. 'riSr* ' rom the Indian States' ™*P«nt, he said that linke.: with inotion to the Crown was an /. *_ tnn ß adherence to the British j B ?® 10a ? rea lth of Nations. They of the *™ja® States were willing to take C»i, ln ' lna k e their contributions w M BJ6*ter prosperitv and content ?' f India as a whole. That could < * oae through a federal system British^d' 00111^ °* t ' lC 8

View of Younger India. * Kfflfnf 4 » a^ar (Hindu representative), iT'vL forward the Point of view of tioe »* ® e J generation in India, said «hm it t }^ e utm °st importance, bewanUa v Sot to-day what she ®*W tv Wot ! ,d be satisfied with ler «i* ~ would not satisfy f/ , months hanee. j® ?P ve India Dominion status the (if f . conr se of a few months itieif. Tf n r "Impendence will die of of raisi., - ' 11 w^! be the surest way \ f «lndep e rde U n «» and intensif r this >ii4 ladians 4 v r . my l ueation > hc *iuJ! T ? listen to any safeQ ring the period of order to make it more A » tor - r b ? t . h Bide s. aolv^i 1101 '. 1 '? 8 question, it '' ooiaain. *? b y giving opportunities conM v Cavour t0 That [? ai * Mmpl e te e f^j ted ? n,y by B ivir '^ D °m:»io n .t.V rcedom in the form of grilles ww Harness all the j* 1 fluent wni.ij er, j.. m uch discon «i» would not ;n^ i t appea ' - . y ° un,: : - r Qs 0/ - upon impossible W,OS **aoT p° a \ bat °' a!v *S«t C » f th<; at Mr Jayaka- to accept. said:wwe/ erin « to British aafeini flr j. a . re . l ui te willing to tbaacQ British an t,^oi? ni them that th lndianS ' but we to ntm Ue enfo ; at the y are not going "joying a monopoly be-