INDIANS AND BRITISH

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 33, 9 February 1928, Page 9

INDIANS AND BRITISH

TO DISCUSS PROBLEMS SIR J. SIMON'S OFFER (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, 7th February. Sir John Simon, chairman of the Indian Statutory Commission, has addressed to the Viceroy of India a letter in which, to allay misconception, ho sets forth the intentions of the Commission. He says that he understands that the Government of India and local governments have documents to put before the Commission. Instead of tho Commission dealing with these documents by itself, ho proposes that they should be received with any explanation or amplification and then come before a "Joint Free Conference," over which he will preside, consisting of the seven British Commissioners and a corresponding body of representatives chosen by the Indian Legislatures. EQUAL STATUS RECOGNISED. Sir John Simon continues: "Wo put forward the plan of a Joint Free Conference, not only because we should welcome the assistance of colleagues from the Indian Legislatures, but becauso wo think it is only right and fair, and in the truest interests of India and Britain alike that opportunity should be provided for such memoranda and testimony to be scrutinised, and, if necessary, elucidated from the Indian side on free and equal terms." Sir John suggests that the two Houses of thp central Legislature should be invited to choose from their non-official members a joint committee, which might conveniently be seven- in number, and that each local Legislative Council should be asked to constitute a similar body. The Indian side of the conference would'consist when central subjects were being dealt with of those first named. At provincial sittings tho Indian wing would consist primarily of provincial members, but Sir John Simon proposes that some members of the Central Joint Committee be present also. He urges that one of the merits of the method of a Joint Conference is that besides securing due recognition of equal status it provides an opportunity for tho free exchango of views and mutual influence which are best calculated to promote the largest measure of agreement possible.