INDIA'S FUTURE.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20199, 30 March 1931, Page 11

INDIA'S FUTURE.

THE DELHI AGREEMENT.

GANDHI TO HEAD CONFERENCE DELEGATION.

(tjhitbd fekss association —Bit Etsoxßxo TELJSQBAPH —COPTEIQHT.) (Received March l 29th, 6.5 p.m.) DELHI, March 28. The Congress Working Committee at Karachi passed a resolution confirming the Delhi agreement between the Viceroy, Lord Irwin, and Gandhi. It also voted confidence in Gandhi and appointed him head o£ the conference delegation to London. Other resolutions reaffirmed the goal of complete independence with control of the Army, foreign relations, finance and fiscal policy, and the release of all political prisoners. The Nau Jawan Casha, or Youth League, which includes frontier Bolshevists, wearing red coats with their insignia of hammer and sickle, attacked the Delhi agreement and Congress policy. They outlined a including an intensive boycott of British goods.

COMMUNAL RIOTS. PANIC IN CAWNPORE. (Received March 29th, 1 p.m.) DELHI, March 28. The death-roll at Cawnpore is officially stated-at 124, including 89 Moslems and 85 Hindus Several women and children are among the victims. It is estimated that the wounded total 400, the majority of whom are Moslems. - i Over a hundred houses were burned, and much property was damaged. ! One hundred and fifty arrests had been made, and the people are in a panic. Ten thousand fled from the city. Business is suspended and. food supplies from nearby villages have broken down. Armoured cars; troops, and 1200 armed police are patrolling the streets. Requests for martial law have been refused.

CREDIT AND SAFEGUARDS.

VICEROY'S FAREWELL SPEECH. - . . r ■ CB&msa omcux* - RUGBY, Maroh 27. A newspaper story that Mr W. Wedgwood Benn ? Secretary for India, had sent a personal, telegram to Mr Gandhi was officially denied in London to-day. The published statement attributed to nim, that in any future Round Table Conference constitutional safeguards would be regarded as being entirely open to disou£si6n„ was described as a distortion of the trad, position.

This was touched upon by the Viceroy. Lord Irwin, iiva speech at a farowell banquet in his honour at New Delhi last night. He said that the safeguards suggested at the Round -TahJs Conference had been subjected to some criticism and misunderstanding.; Indian opinion was sureljl not less nnxious than an'y opinion in Great Britain to see .security provided where necessary for the good: of India in the sphere of credit and finance'. Financial Safeguards. > It was the considered view of his Majesty's Government that, in the in* terest of India, it was imperative to provide offective safeguards for the maintenance of finanoial stability, and for the protection of India's credit. The Government had reached the oonclusion that to secure this purpose the financial safeguards diseussed at the Round Table Conference were essential. If, however, in the course of farther constitutional discussions any, of those participating in them desired to suggest other, financial safeguards, the Government, in accordance with the terms of the statement issued on March sth by the Governor-General in Council* would not wish to limit their right to do so. and would be prepared to give such; suggestions careful con# sidefation. The aoceptance by the Government pf such tions would depend on the ability- of those proposing thorn to convince the Government that the safeguards would be equally effective for/the purpose described. • ' Lord Irwin said that only a shallow critic would undervalue the powerful and promising iframework which the Round Table Conference' had prepared. ' >