The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1931. THE INDIAN CONFERENCE.

Evening Star, Issue 20687, 9 January 1931, Page 8

The Evening Star FRIDAY, JANUARY 9, 1931. THE INDIAN CONFERENCE.

Big conferences are like parliamentary sessions in at least one particular. There comes a time when the members are anxious to return to their homes, and there is a consequent’ speeding up of the proceedings, sometimes with unfortunate results. The Round Table Conference on India has been sitting for two months. Considering its size and the fact that the delegates, transported from a laud of hot sunshine to the bleak conditions of a London winter, must ho under a severe strain, the absence of jarring notes is remarkable. Strongly divergent views are evident enough, but up to the present the delegates have borne themselves with admirable resti’aint and dignity. It is improbable, however, that the conference can last much longer. The British Parliament opens very shortly, and Mr Ramsay MacDonald has intimated his desire that tho Indian gathering should end its labours ,before he becomes immersed in tiio perplexing domestic problems that confront him. Tho committees of the Round Table Conference are working unremittingly to devise a plan for the future government of India that will be generally acceptable to tho delegates. The problems are so numerous, so delicate, and so intricate that it is only by substantial concessions by every section, whether British or Indian. that a workable scheme will be evolved. One of tho gravest problems is the adjustment of the differences between tho Hindus and tho Mohammedans. 'The latter number seventy millions in India, and this iormidablo minority are not disposed tu make any concessions under which they imagine their security will be weakened. In commenting on this point, Mr Garvin, writing in tho ‘Observer,’ declared: “Tins colossal communal question becomes as all-important for tho union or disruption of India as was the communal question, of Ulster ior tho union or disruption of Ireland.”

Apparently tho report of the Federal Structure Sub-committco is almost ready for presentation to a plenary session of tho conference. Mr M. A. Jinnah, a prominent Moslem delegate to tho conference, who is said to enjoy the confidence of the Hindus, put the matter concisely yesterday when ho said that one powerful section of his country demanded complete independence and another section expected real dominion status, lie was under no misgivings that either of these concessions was contemplated immediately, but lie declared that tho measure of responsibility must be sitcii as would command the support of politi-cally-mindcd India, and would win over tho bulk of tho supporters of these two sections. In devising the plans for tho building of tho federal structure the task of the sub-committee was to provide for tho security and progress of tho whole country, which includes the measure of tho continuance of authority and control by tho British, safeguards for tho minorities, tho protection of tiro frontiers, especially in the North-west, and tho maintenance of law and order* generally. In discussing tho nature of the central authority in an All-India Federation, the Simon report expressed the opinion that tho British parliamentary system. with an executive representing a single party, and depending horn day to day on tho vote of a majority of directly-elected representatives, was not likely to bo tho model according to which responsible government at tbo centre of India would be evolved. I’his view was, endorsed this week by Sir Samuel Jioare (who was a member of Mr Baldwin’s last Ministry) in placing tho British Conservative attitude before the conference. Ho pointed out that an Indian Cabinet could not bo unitary in the British sense, ami he doubted tho wisdom of attempting to apply tho British House of Commons system to an All-India Federation. Ho emphasised the view, which must carry much weight, that tho huge size of India and the conditions of its population would make any imitation of tho British ' political system impracticable. Where so many big cjuestions are involved it is difficult to say which is tho greatest, but tho matter of the character of the Central Executive and its responsibility to tho central Legislature, with tho powers retained in the hands of tho Governor-General, as representative of tho King-Emperor, is one now engaging tho closest attention, end the developments along this line will he awaited with interest.