INDIA'S FUTURE.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20505, 26 March 1932, Page 15

INDIA'S FUTURE.

DECLARED POLICY OF GREAT BRITAIN. NEED FOR COMMUNAL SAFEGUARDS. THE ALL-INDIA FEDERATION. (bkitish official wireless.) (Received March 25th, 5.5 p.m.) RUGBY, March 24. Before Parliament rose to-day for the Easter recess, an important statement was made in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for India (Sir Samuel Hoare). He recalled that in December the House of Commons had approved a statement on Indian policy made by the Prime Minister at the end of the Round Table Conference, and had adopted that policy as its own. That policy was being carried into effect.

The Government was going forward resolutely, and with not the least intention of being jostled off the road by threats, fears, or sudden alarms. Formidable difficulties were unfortunately inherent in the actual State of India itself. These were: First, the communal' trouble; second, the complexity of the question of an All-India Federation. .'

Community Problems. He appreciated the anxiety of the many people in England, who took the view that the Indians would not agree among themselves, and asked why the British Government should intervene and give A decision that would dissatisfy many people and satisfy very few. The trouble, however, was tlie great majority of the people were anxious for-some measure of constitutional advance in India, and no effectiv; constitutional advance, either in the provinces or the centre, was possible wt'.hout some kind of communal settlement. The British Government was not prepared to accept this deadlock. They said that by far the best solution was that the communities should agre« among themselves. But if the communities failed to agree the Government would be compelled to give a provisional decision that would make possible constitutional advances. Basis of Constitution. In this contingency he thought they should agreo that as ihuch as possible of the constitutional'structurc should bo left to be settled by agreement between the Indians and Britain. tl l am. exceedingly sorry that the communities have not agreed amongst themselves. I think I may claim to know what is in the minds of my Moslem friends, and also of the depressed glasses, and of the Christian minority. They feel that they have been drawn into a discussion of the. final details of the constitution before they are sure of the safeguards necessary for their every existence; I can understand their anxiety. We Baid we would insist upon a necessary safeguard for the minority in any constitutional act. Meanwhile, may I suggest that the leaders of communities should concentrate their efforts oil organising their forces for the inevitable election of the future rather than on heated discussions concerning what the British Government are or are not going to do.

View on Federation. '' Second, there is the very complex question of an All-India Federation.. I am convinced an All-India Federation, comprising both the Indian States and the provinces of British India, will give India much the best chance of constitutional development on safe and sound foundations.

"I wish to say, with the full authority of the Government, that we are as deeply interested in the development of an All-India Federation as we were last winter. Wc wish to see the princes enter a federal" system, and wc believe that not only will they, best serve tHteir -own interests by entering it, but they will-best serve the interests of India as well. Of course, there must be a difference of opinion among 600 States upon so complex and so novel a question. Aim of Government.

"It may well be that modifications will be required in a federal plan. As it stands, we have not the least wish to dictate or impose, even if we could do so, a scheme upon the Indian States. What we want is a workable scheme for effective federation that will combine British India and the Indian, States for agreed purposes in an organised constitutional structure."