INDIAN PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 145, 16 March 1931, Page 9

INDIAN PROBLEM

Mr. Baldwin’s Speech RETURN OF DELEGATES British Wireless. Rugby, March 13. The India debate last night, in which Mr. Baldwin restated the Conservative policy of co-operation to maintain the unity of parties on fhe general principles of Indian policy in a speech described by Mr. Benn as historic, was wound up by the Prime Minister. Mr. MacDonald expressed the hope that the future co-operation of parties would be as creative and effective as it was during the conference, when they had succeeded In planning the general aspect of the picture of the Indian Constitution, and in laying down the conditions—federal structure, responsibility at centre, safeguards of various kinds, Princes coming in and provisions safeguarding all communities in India. Now the work was going on in India and, here, and soon they wore going to get the Federal Structure Committee at work again in London. That committee’s report Indicated some of the big points to be discussed. Speaking of the return of the Indian delegates to London, the Prime Minister said: —"We hope when they come— I cannot say we have been officially told—that Mr. Gandhi himself will be here and other representatives of Congress, and that we shall have our old friends, men to whom we owed so much at the Round Table Conference, the Princes, Hindus, and Moslems, representatives of labour and representa- . tives not only of the Government but of Parliament.” • The Secretary for India, Mr. Wedgwood Benn, when asked for a statement in the House of Commons as to the financial implications of the report of the Round Table Conference, referred to paragraphs 18 and 20 of the report of the Federal Structure Subcommittee of the Conference. He said: ‘‘The importance, both now and under tho new Constitution, of the financial stability of India and of" her credit position could not possibly be exaggerated. It is in India’s own interest that she should retain the position of confidence which she enjoys. It is the considered view of the Government, which, indeed, is well known, that the safeguards referred to by the Federal Structure Committee, Including the powers of the Governor-General in relation to currency legislation, are essential and cannot be abated, if the new Constitution is to be established with success.” WELLINGTON CONFERENCE Hindu and Young Theosophists Tho young Theosophists of Wellington were the hosts of a delegation of the Hindu Society last week, with whom they . conferred on Indian affairs. Mr. .1. Griffiths, secretary of the New Zealand and India League, presided, and the two delegations •were Messrs. Keshawlal, Nazanjl. and Mahanlal (India), Messrs. Naylor, Harris, and Hansen (Britain). The following resolutions were passed:— "That Dominion status la essential for the prosperity of both India and the Empire. ‘‘That as it is essential that Indian farmers have well-nourished lands, the problem of Irrigation must receive immediate attention. It is suggested that the Legislative Assembly obtain an external loan to establish an irrigation system. This would bo a means of practical co-operation between India and Britain. ‘‘That the army could comfortably be diminished by 50 per cent., and that this revenue (approx. £20,000,000) be devoted • to education. "That as the cost of British military administration is high, the Ihdianisaton of the army over a given period of years would be to tho Interest and prosperity Of the country.” After an expression of the desire to meet •gain in open conference was made by both parties, the conference was concluded.