FUTURE OF INDIA

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 34, 4 November 1929, Page 11

FUTURE OF INDIA

PROPOSAL FOR FULL DOMINION STATUS FIRST SUGGESTION FROM DELHI STATEMENT BY MR. MACDONALD (United Press Association. —By Electric . Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received November 3, 5.5 p.m.) London, November 2. Mr, MacDonald told tho “Daily Mail,” in the course of an interview, that it wa~ the Indian Government and not the Imperial that first suggested the issue of a declaration in favour of full Dominion status for India. The Imperial Government only agreed on this representation. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic correspondent states that Government circles are by no menus clear of the relationship of the Dominions to the coming discussions on India’s future status. Apparently the Dominion Governments have not been seriously consulted in this great Empire issue. Whether they will be invited to participate in the proposed round-table conference has not been definitely stated yet Some of the Dominions at any rate would undoubtedly resent the issues being first decided between London and Delhi and submitted to the Dominions afterwards when they could hardly be altered. VICEROY’S PRONOUNCEMENT COMMENTS OF ENGLISH PRESS PROPOSED CONFERENCE PRAISED (British Official Wireless.) , Rugby, November 1. The pronouncement of Lord Irwin, the Viceroy of India, in which he summarises the important modification now proposed in the procedure subsequent to the report of the Statutory Commission, and reaffirms the determination of British opinion that pledges shall be redeemed in full, is the subject of comment in most of the newspapers. Attention is particularly directed to the following sentence in Lord Inwin’s statement: —“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.” “The Times" says that Lord Irwin has no more than repeated the various but essentially consistent definitions of the ultimate goal of India’s constitutional progress. The “Daily Telegraph” praises the invitation to a conference and says that on the face of It no fault can be found with Lord Irwin’s statement, but It expresses the fear that the reference at this time to an estimate of British policy may serve as an irritant to a large, if misguided, body of Indian opinion which clamours for the immediate concession of Dominion status. The “Manchester ' Guardian” says that the good effect of the Prime Minister’s letter will be greatly enhanced by the emphatic reiteration in the Viceroy’s statement of the goal of British policy for India. The effect has been electrical, and gone far to unite all political parties in India. The “Daily Herald” says that Lord Irwin’s declaration is Identical with those-repeatedly affirmed by India’s own political leaders; but is a declaration of first importance, but it is not an announcement of a new policy. It is a reaffirmation and a clearer interpretation of the policy laid down twelve years ago. But in the years that followed there has been a tendency in some quarters to restrict the declaration. “Those suspicions to-day’s declaration should sweep away once for all. Definitely and explicitly Dominion status is declared to be the goal of British policy as of Indian aspiration. There is complete unity of purpose. Can there not be co-operation in achievement?” THE ULTIMATE GOALCOST WHAT IT MAY (Rec. November 3, 11 p.m.) London, November 3. Mr. Garvin, writing in the “Observer,” says: “Dominion status is the ultimate goal as regards the external relations of India. We are bound by the phase, cost what it may . That will not prevent an immeasurable catastrophe unless a sound Federal structure is devised. For the Empire-Continent to fix its imagination at this stage on Dominion status will only push India to ruin.” REPLY TO LIBERAL LEADER COMMISSION NOT CONSULTED (British Official Wireless.) Rugby, November 1. In the House of Commons to-day, Mr. Lloyd George, the Liberal Leader, asked the Secretary for India whether the Statutory Commission of the Indian Government was consulted with reference to the passage in the important statement made by the Viceroy of India yesterday which relates to the constitutional status for India in the Empire; whether the Commission concurred, and whether that passage is intended to indicate any change either in the substance or in point of time in the policy announced by the previous Governments. The Minister, Captain Wedgwood Benn, replied that the answer to the first part of the question was in the negative. It was due to the Statutory Commission that he should make It perfectly clear that they were not consulted. - The second part of the question, therefore, did not arise. As to the third part, the Minister said the passage referred to was intended to set out the goal of British policy as stated in the declaration of August, 1917. In view of the doubts which had been expressed both in Great Britain and India regarding the interpretation placed on the intentions of the , British Government in enacting the

Statute of 1919, the Viceroy had been authorised on behalf of His Majesty’s Government to state clearly that in its judgment it was implicit in the declaration of 1917 that the natural issue of India’s constitutional progress as there contemplated was the attainment of Dominion status. Questions <?f policy involving changes either in substance or in time could not be considered until the Commission and the Indian Central Committee had submitted their reports, and His Majesty’s Government had been able in consultation with the Government of India to consider these matters in the light of all the material then available, and after the meeting of the conference which it was proposed to summon. NO CONSULTATION WITH MR. BALDWIN London, November 1. In the House of Commons, Commander Kenworthy (Lab.) referred to the statement-made in the Press that Mr. Baldwin had been consulted. Mr. Baldwin bluntly denied the truth of every statement of fact, or implication of fact, in the Press. COMING DEBATE IN HOUSE OF COMMONS London, November 1. The Government has agreed to the Opposition’s request to devote Thursday to the debate on India. The debate will be opened by Mr. Baldwin. The Marquess of Beading, in the House of Lords on Tuesday, intends to move drawing attention to Lord Irwin’s statement regarding India’s attainment of Dominion status.