EQUAL STATUS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1923, Page 7

EQUAL STATUS

THE INDIAN CLAIM

FURTHER SPEECHES REPORTED

AUSTRALASIAN TREATMENT.

(U.NITKD PRESS ASSOCIATION.— COPYRIGHT.)

(ACSIRAUAN-NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.);. LONDON, Jst November. ' In the course of his speech at the Imperial Conference in support of the Indian clauses for equal status in the citnzenship of the Britain Dominions (the most of. which was reported yesterday), Mr. Sapru outlined a proposal that the Dominion and British Governments should appoint a committee to confer with a committee appointed by the Indian Government- along the lines of the formula agreed to by the Duke of Devonshire and-himself. He explained that wanted a committee appointed by each Dominion to confer with the Indian committee. This would give time for the. angry passions of 'India to calm down It would enable all concerned to consider a solution of the. problem and would absolutely safeguard the independence of the Dominions. He specially appealed to General Smuts to help to "raise the status of Indians in Soutli Africa and Sn Jl^ '. f the Problem there 'were allowed to tester much longer it would become a question of foreign policy of such gravity that the unity of the Empire might founder irretrievably upon it. WHITE AUSTRALIA'S RESTRICTIONS Mr. S. M. Bruce, Prime Minister of Australia, saici that the 1921 resolution was concurred in by the Australian representatives. The subject had been one of considerable public discussion in Australia and men of every shade of political thought there had shown sympathy with the claim that legally domiciled Indians should enjoy full" citizenship rights. As, however, the question had not figured on the preliminary agenda of the Conference, he had not had an opportunity of consulting his colleaguesor Parliament. At the same time, he believed that Australian public opinion was ready to welcome, as far as domiciled Indians were concerned any measure which was conceded to be in the Empire s interests. It was not a question of admitting, fresh Indians; that would be contrary .to the fundamental principles which animated the people of .Australia and must govern the policy of : any Australian Government. Nor did ! h. e understand that there was. any shadow of a suggestion that the Indian Government desired to emigrate Indians to Australia. It w as simply a question of satisfying the legitimate aspirations of the few Indians already lawfully domiciled there. He paid a tribute to India s war efforts, which had won for her a new status. The opposition to any Asiatic emigration rested on clear, cogent, economic considerations, not on feelings against race or colour. For this reason the Commonwealth Parliament had prohibited Indian and Asiatic settlers. He therefore, under Australia's special circumstances, sthought it unnecessary for India to send a special committee of inquiry. On his return he would consult his co.lleagues- on what action should be taken.

j POSITION IN NEW ZEALAND !,. Mr. Massey said that New Zealand gave Indians in the Dominion practically the same privileges a s were enjoyed by Anglo-Saxons settled there. Any objections ever raised to Indians going to New Zealand were on economic grounds such as Mr. Bruce, had indicated. They should do everything necessary to make the natives of India feel that they desired to treat them with justice. Mr. Sastri, during his visit to New Zealand, had said that he had practically no fault to find in regard to its treatment of Indians.