CLEAR STATEMENT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 99, 28 April 1937, Page 11

CLEAR STATEMENT

SPECIAL POWERS IN INDIA

ONLY FOR PROPER PURPOSES

(British Ofllclnl Wireless.) . ~ RUGBY, April 26. A statement on the political, situation in the Indian provinces where Congress majorities have declined to assume the responsibilities of Government was made in the House of Commons by the Parliamentary..., Under-Secretary of State for India, Mr. R. A., Butler. "I observe from recent comment as to the intention of the Congress resolution that the main apprehension appears to be lest the Governors should use their special powers for detailed interference in administration," he "Let. me make it plain that the British Government has no intention of countenancing the use of special powers for other than the purposes for which Parliament intended them. It is certainly not the intention that the Governors, by a narrow or legalistic interpretation of their own responsibilities, should trench upon the wide , powers which it was the purpose of. Parliament to place in the hands of the Ministries, and which it is our- desire they should use in the furtherance of the programmes which they have advocated." .

This clear and definite pronouncement was made in reply to a member who suggested that there had been a misunderstanding on the part of Congress leaders and which should be removed on the spot in the interests of good government in India.