INDIA'S PLACE

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 9, 11 July 1922, Page 8

INDIA'S PLACE

EQUALITY IN THE EMPIRE LUNCHEON AT. PARLIAMENT HOUSE. Mr. Saatri and his secretary. Mr. Bajpai, were the guests of the Government at a Parliamentary luncheon today. The Prime Minister presided, and was supported by.Ministers, the Speakers of both Houses, and the Leader of the Opposition. There was a large, gathering of members of the Legislative Council and the House of. Bepresentatiyes. For the occasion the old chamber had been gaily hung with flags, and the tables were tastefully decorated with autumn foliage and flowers. The toast of "The King" was honoured, on the proposal'of Mr. Massey. The Prime Minister then proposed the health of the guest, Mr. 'Sastri. It was not the first time that Mr. Sastri and he had met. He had very pleasant recollections of Mr. Sastri's representation of the Government and people of India at the Imperial Conference. Mr. Massey recalled other distinguished representatives of India, and said no better men had taken part in the conferences. India rose nobly to the .occasion in the Great War, sending over a million soldiers. These things could never be forgotten, and he was glad to think that the rela-1 tions between India and the Dominions were never better than at present. There was much to be done in Empire building, of which he could not speak at the present, but he wished merely to express the opinion that India's actions entitled her to a place in the councils of the Empire. He" welcomed Mr. Sastri on behalf of Parliament, and assured him of the heartiest welcome in the country.

Mr. ■ Sastri, alluding to a remark of Mri Massey's, said that India expected year. They had just started, and were a large Empire Parliamentary delegation to visit the Parliament;: of India next looking to their elder sisters for guidance. Nevertheless, though starting behind time, he believed in a few years they would prove themselves worthy of the mother of Parliaments from which they all sprang. They were striving to* they could to realise in their two Houses the great traditions, honourable practices, and chivalrous relations which obtained between parties and individuals in Great Britain. In their attempts to become a full Dominion he knew he had the sympathy of Mr. Massey among others, and that there was a feeling in the Dominion stronger than before the war that the Empire's highest achievements were possible only when all parts had come together round the council table, on a baeiu of equality, all instruments of usefulness Great at the.

achievement of the British Commonwealth had been, there was much yet to do. There was nothing to do of greater importance than assuring real equality in the Empire. There was nothing today which gave more concern to statesmen tEan a possible conflict of East and West.

There was nothing tb«y were more anxious about than a probable conflict of the Eastern and Western civilisations. There was ho human agency which could do more to avert that conflict than the British Empire. In India to-day there was a political movement of much significance, which he doubted if it were fully appreciated in New Zealand. People who were content, during the war, to do their part for the Empire were now anxiously examining whether it was right for them to commit themselves and future generations to participation in the Empire. Mr. Sastri proceeded to expound eloquently the Indian desire for equality of treatment. He believed that from the present constitution India would pass to full Dominion status; but they could not conceal the fact that in some parts of the Empire, Indians were still subjected to disabilities, and even humiliations. If India could not remain in the Empire, with all its advantages, on a basis of equality, she would prefer to seek, her destiny outside. He urged that it was the duty of the Dominions to assist to remove the idea of an Empire, based oh the domination of a superior race, and to replace it with an Empire which was truly an association of equal nations.

The gathering expressed its appreciation of a notable speech by giving three cheers, on Mr. Massey's call, for "Mr. Sastri, our fellow-citiaeri."