INDIAN PROBLEM

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 149, 20 March 1933, Page 9

INDIAN PROBLEM

The New Constitution BRITISH PROPOSALS Provincial Autonomy Ceded SAFEGUARDS OUTLINED (Received March 19, 7.15 i>.m.) Official Wireless. Rugby, March 17. The British Government’s proposals for the reorganisation of the constitution of India have been issued in the form of a White Paper, and will be examined by a Joint Select Committee of both Houses of Parliament in consultation with representatives of Indian opinion. The final proposals, in the form of a Bill, will be based on the Committee s report. By the proposals the provinces are given autonomy, and to the Federal Government is conceded responsible government over the whole field of administration allotted to the Federation except in regard to reserved subjects. It will be brought about by the Princes surrendering a defined corpus of their present sovereign rights, but retaining internal autonomy in respect of rights not so surrendered and unaffected by any other consideration. The Governor-General and Viceroy will have a dual capacity, the GovernorGeneral as head of the Federation and the Viceroy as conducting relations with States outside the Federal sphere. As Governor-General he will be aided and advised by a Council of Ministers responsible to the Legislature in all matters save those concerned with three Departments .to be reserved to his personal administration— namely, defence, external affairs, and ecclesiastical affairs.

Special Responsibility.

The Governor-General is also given special responsibility for certain purposes, including the following:—

The prevention of a grave menace to peace or tranquillity. The safeguarding of the financial stability and credits of the Federation. The safeguarding of the legitimate interests of minorities. Securing to members of the Public Services of any rights provided for them by the Constitution and the safeguarding of their legitimate interests. The protection of the rights of any Indian State. / The prevention of commercial discripiination. Any matter which affects the administration of the reserved departments. In the event of a breakdown of the machinery of government, the Governor-General is empowered to assume full control.

These special and wide powers are, however, to be exercised only in special circumstances, except in the case of the reserved departments.

i The Federal Legislature resembles the existing central legislature in composition, and will consist of two chambers. The Upper Chamber, or Council, will consist of 19 members, and the Lower Chamber, or the House of Assembly, will consist of 375 members, of whom 125 will be appointed by the Princes, and the others appointed direct according to the seats allocated to each province and to the several communities and interests in each province. In the provinces certain subjects—reserved subjects—have hitherto been administered by the Governor-in-Coun-cll and other transferred subjects by the Governor and Ministers and the Legislative. Council. The reserved subjects, including law and order, are now transferred to Ministers responsible to the Legislature, but the provincial governments, like the Governor-Gen-eral, are given special responsibilities with corresponding powers to discharge these responsibilities, confined in scope of course to the province. The White Paper will be presented by Sir Samuel Hoare in the House of Commons on March 27. It is expected there will be a three days’ debate, and the committee will subsequently report to the Government, probably in six months. Cabinet will then determine the final terms of the Bill. This is unlikely to be ready for introduction in Parliament until early in 1934. Complicated Instrument. “The Times” in a leading article says that the draft of the Indian Constitution appears to be one of the most complicated instruments ever framed for the government of mankind-owing to the elaborate safeguards. Nevertheless it was workable if common sense was applied. All that need be said at the moment is that such examina tion as-is possible goes to suggest that the White Paper does faithfully translate the measure of agreement which has been reached between Englishmen and Indians in the last few years, and that its workability, like that of every constitution in the world, will depend upon a common readiness to. work it. The “Daily Mail” says there is no escape from the old dilemma. If the safeguards are effective, then India is not going to have selfgovernment. If they are ineffective the risk to India and the Empire is going to prove terrific.