WITHDRAWN.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 282, 21 August 1908, Page 7

WITHDRAWN.

THE TRANSVAAL GOVERNMENT RECEDES ASIATIC REGISTRATION. SELECT COMMITTEE TO BE SET UP. (BY TELEGRAni —FUESS ASSOCIATION—COrI'ItIGHT.) (Rec. August 20, 11.58 p.m.) Pretoria, August 20. Following on an interview botweon tho loaders of tlio Asiatics, who protest against tlio Registration Act, and General Botha (Premior' of the Transvaal), and General Smuts (Colonial Secretary of tlio Transvaal), tlio Transvaal Government dccidod to withdraw the Registration Validation Bill.

The question of the registration of Asiatics will be referred to a select committee of tlio Transvaal Assembly.

THE COMPROMISE: INDIAN VERSION. In January the Transvaal Government and the Indians arranged a compromise which, it was thought, would be final, but there is a dispute as. to the terms. At the time of tho compromise it was arranged, tho Indians say, that subject to voluntary registration, the Asiatic Registration Act should oo repealed. This has not been done, and the proposal (contained in the Bill now withdrawn) to legalise under the Act the voluntary registrations they denounce as an exhibition of slimness. Mr. Gandhi wrotot to the Colonial Office thus on the matter':—"J beg to apply formally for a'return of my application for voluntary registration, and all the. papers given by me in connection. with the matter, for tho following reasons: I have just learned that it is the definite .intention of tho Government to legaliso voluntary registration under the Asiatio Act, making tho Act applicable to such Asiatics in every other respect. This I consider to be a distinct breach of tho compact arrived at between the Government and the Asiatic communities of the Transvaal. General Smuts told me that if tho compact on the part of tho Asiatic communities was carried out, he would repeal the Act. This was in answer to my letter of February llast, asking for a definite assurance on the matter. I claim that tho Asiatics have more than fulfilled their part of tho contract. It is, therefore, the Government's duty to dcclare their intention to repeal the Act/'