EXTRA EDITION LATE NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 152, 26 December 1923, Page 8

EXTRA EDITION LATE NEWS

THE INDIAN VlEtf

ON EMPIRE, RELATIONS

SAPRU AND SOUTH AFRICA

BITTER PEELING AGAINST

SMUTS.

(UXITF.D PRESS ASSOCIATION. —COPIRIGHT.)

. (RENTER'S TELEQBAK.) (Received 26th December, 2 p.m.)

DELHI, 25th December.

Dr. Tej Bahadur Sapru devoted the greater part of his presidential address at the Indian National 'Liberal Federation at Poona to the examination of the question of Indians overseas as discussed by the Imperial Conference.

He paid a tribute to Messrs. Mackenzie^King, Massey, and Bruce, quoting the latter's Conference speech, but he strongly criticised General Smuts. Summing up, he said that so far as the Dominions and Colonies, other than South Africa, were concerned, they should give ,a patient trial to the scheme adopted by the Imperial Conference and do nothing tending to prejudice negotiations with the Dominions and Colonial Office as regards Kenya. Respecting" South Africa, he urged strong action. The Indian Government must' assert itself and impose a tariff against African coal. . . . ■Touching the internal affairs of' India, he demanded the rapid Indianisation of the Army, and urged the suspension of British recruitment for the Public Service of India, as existing incumbents would continue to retain office for the next 25 years. He pressed for the roi examination of reforms v with a view to further advance..