STATE OF INDIA

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 9, 10 July 1931, Page 7

STATE OF INDIA

DEBATE IN PARLIAMENT

THE REAL QUESTION

WAS POLICY JUSTIFIED?

MINISTER'S DEFENCE

(British Official Wireless.) (Received 10th July, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, 9th July. In the House of Commons, at the request of the Conservatives, a discussion took place on Indian affairs with particular reference to the Cawnpore riots, Burma, and the economic boycott. Lord Irwin, the late Viceroy of India, was present in the Distinguished Strangers' Gallery. Lord Winterton ,(C), referring to the disturbances in Chittagong, Cawnpore, and a score of outbreaks in Burma, said that the anxiety was increased.by the undue reticence on the part of the Secretary for India, and his failure, which he blamed, to insist on the display and use- of force which, if action had been taken at the outset would have saved many valuable lives. PEACE AND THE PACT. Beplying, the Secretary for India, Mr. Wedgwood; Benn, described the measures taken as tho result of the outbreaks. In Burma tfie policy of the Government was to endow (the local Governor with the necessary power and force, but at the same time to deal with the economic and political causes underlying the insurrection. He attributed the decline, in Lancashire's trade with India mainly to depression in the purchasing power of the Indian people. The position of the Indian market was no more unfavourable probably than other markets, and it was easy to credit too much, of the loss to Congress activities. . . : Cawnpore, with its tragedy, must be looked at in perspective, arid, the real question was, had their policy of_ the past two years been justified and right; As the result of the London Conference ambassadors of peace went 'feck to India, and with the brilliant assistance of Lord Irwin, were able to secure peace by the Irwin-Gandhi pact. Here and there fliey had not; achieved what they sought, but, taking India all over, there was peace whore there was formerly civil disobedience. It was the first article of the of the Government and of the Government of India and the Provincial Governments that the terms of the undertakings reached by Lord Irwin and Mr. Gandhi should be fulfilled in spirit and_ letter, and he must say from what official and private information he had that that also had, without exception, been the effort of Mr. Gandhi himself. Concluding, Mr. Benn said that they hoped in a few weeks' time to assemble in London a Conference fully representative of opinion in India, a conference which in variety, power, and influence would be incomparably tho most important meeting that had .ever taken place. They had pursued the path of peace and co-operation for two years with great sincerity, and had extended widely the area of goodwill in India. EIGHTS OF MINORITIES. - Continuing the debate Sir John Simon (L.) said that it was the duty of tho Government, both in India and at Home, not only to hold the scales fairly between the majority and minority, communities, but to satisfy the minorities that they were doing so. He begged the Government to make it clear that in the whole course of administration and affairs' in India minority communities—not only Moslems, but others, —might feel that while Mr. Gandhi was no doubt an important figure, we were anxious to make the contribution we alone could mako by keeping the balance quite even between all concerned. ! - ' The debato continues. (