FUTURE OF INDIA

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 33, 2 November 1929, Page 11

FUTURE OF INDIA

SCOPE OF INQUIRY OF COMMISSION RELATIONS WITH NATIVE STATES STATEMENT BY VICEROY (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, October 31. Lord Irwin, Viceroy of India, has made a statement which is published in India to-day, regarding an extension of the scope of inquiry of the Indian Statutory Commission to include the relations between British India and the Indian States. He says that Sir John Simon, chairman of the Statutory Commission, has pointed out in correspondence with the Prime Minister that he and his colleagues have been greatly impressed, in considering the future constitutional development of India, with the importance of bearing in mind the relations which may develop between British India and the Indian States, and that, in Sir John Simon’s judgment it is essential that the methods whereby this future relationship between these two constituent parts of Greater India may be adjusted should be fully examined. Sir John Simon has suggested that after the Statutory Commission and the Indian Central Committee have made their reports, the British Government shall meet representatives both of British India and the Indian States for the purpose of seeking the greatest possible measure of agreement for the final proposals which the British Government will later submit to Parliament. India’s Place Among Dominions. Lord Irwin proceeds: “With these views I understand His Majesty’s Government is in complete accord. The goal of British policy was stated in the declaration of August, 1917, to be ! that of providing for the gradual development of self-governing institutions with a view to the progressive realisation of responsible Government in India as an integral part of the British Empire. My own instrument of instructions from the King-Emperor expressly states that it is His, Majesty’s will and pleasure that the 'plans laid by Parliament in 1919 should be the means whereby British India may attain its due place among his Dominions. The Ministers of the Crown, moreover, have more than once publicly declared it to be the desire of the British Government that India should in the fullness of time take her place in the Empire In equal partnership with the Dominions. But in view of the doubts which have been expressed both in Great Britain and India regarding the interpretation to be placed on the intentions of the British Government in enacting the Statute of 1919, I am authorised on behalf of His Majesty’s Government to state clearly that in its judgment it is implicit in the declaration of 1917 that the natural issue of India’s constitutional progress, as there contemplated, is the attainment of Dominion status. Place of Indian States. “In the full realisation of this policy it is evidently important that the Indian States should be afforded an opportunity of finding their place, and even if we cannot at present exactly foresee on what lines this development may be shaped, it is from every point of view desirable that whatever can be done should be done to ensure that the action taken now is not inconsistent with the attainment of the ultimate purpose which those in British India or the States, who look to some unity of all India, have in view. His Majesty’s Government considers that both these projects, namely, that of finding the best approach to the British Indian side of the problem, and, secondly, of ensuring that in this process the wider question of closer relations in the future between the two parts of Greater India is not overlooked, can best be achieved by the adoption of the procedure such a’s Sir John Simon has outlined. Consultations with Representatives of Parties. “When, therefore, the Commission and the Indian Central Committee have submitted their reports and these have been published, and when His Majesty’s Government has been able, in consultation with the Government of India, to consider these matters in the light of all the material then available, they will propose to invite representatives of the different parties and interests in British India and representatives of the Indian States to meet them separately or together, as circumstances may demand, for the purpose of confer-. ence and'discussion in regard both to British Indian and all Indian problems. It will be their earnest hope that by this means it may subsequently prove possible on these grave issues to submit proposals to Parliament which may command a wide measure of general assent.” STATEMENT CRITICISED GOVERNMENT ACTION DISAPPROVED MR. DANSBURY’S MESSAGE TO PEOPLE OF INDIA (Rec. November 1, 11 p.m.) London, October 31. Members of the House of Commons are excitedly discussing in the lobbies the positipn of the Simon Commission in view of Lord Irwin’s statement. It is generally believed that Sir John Simon disapproves of the declaration preceding the Commission’s report. The Conservative and Liberal leaders similarly disapprove of the Government’s action. Mr. Lloyd George has given notice of an urgent question asking to-morrow whether the Commission has been consulted regarding India’s status, whether the Commission concurred, and whether the passage in the statement indicates the policy of the previous Governments either in substance or in point of time. Mr. G. Lansbury, -as chairman of the British Committee on Indian affairs, has forwarded a message to the people of India sending love and congratulations. “This is a great day in India’s history. I especially rejoice with Gandhi and Mrs. Annie Besant regarding the Government’s decision for a round-table conference, coupled with an unequivocal declaration that British policy remains the same, namely, ulti-

mately the establishing of India as an equal partner in the British Commonwealth of nations, with full Dominion status, for which the Committee fought for fourteen years.” He appeals to Indian comrades and friends to take the declarations at their face value, adding that there is no shadow of disagreement among the highest authorities, either in Britain or in India, regarding India’s right to self-govern-ment. ■