The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1933. A SPLIT OVER INDIA

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 185, 3 May 1933, Page 8

The Dominion. WEDNESDAY, MAY 3, 1933. A SPLIT OVER INDIA

■■nielard" opposition to the British Governments proposals lor Lloyd is leading the "Diehard" attack ii said to hero a considerable follomng. Uy common consent, the the I Labour Party may be expected to vole for the Government rather "” n 4he ‘Diel,a’r™'attack has taken two main lines. The first is being mtroduce control of the police to the Indian legislatures, should no. Has replied that sdf-govern-mpn f in the orovinces only would leave the native princes out of Account Moreover, autonomous provinces and an ’rresponsih e centre would be provocative of jealousies and irritations. As to the control of the police, it is contended that if the Indian legislatures a?e given the responsibility for law and order they will rise to it The second main objection is based on the collapse of democratic governmental systems in certain Western countries. Mr. Churchill argues that .this is no time to extend to the conglomerate of race, creed caste, and colour which is India a system of government which in Europe, he declares, is being sharply questioned In comment the Manchester Guardtan (Radical) depletes the want of confidence which argues that because democratic rule seems to have failed anywhere, it must therefore fail every wheie, that t is no longer a possible British export.” That ,s the voice ol idealism The point is how far India can be trusted. Mr. Churchill ..contends that as law and order hitherto have only been preserved by measures of repression we should not go to the other extreme and give her too much liberty. . . . Taking a broad view of the prospect the impression persists that the whole proposition is a gamble. The Government proposes to take India largely on trust. When Mr. Gandhi and his followers wei-e placed on trust they abused it, and were sent back to prison. Having gone thus far, however, it would be dangerous for Britain to retract. She is pledged to go forward, and so far as the Government is concerned she is prepared'to take the risk.