INDIAN SITUATION

Greymouth Evening Star, 2 March 1931, Page 3

INDIAN SITUATION

VICEROY AND GANDHI

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.]

DELHI, February 28

The Viceroy, Lord Irwin, and Dr Gandhi discussed the Indian situation for three and a-half hours. Dr Gandhi subsequently told an interviewer. that the talks may be resumed, and that further reference to London would be necessary. The meeting, it is understood, narrowed the issues down to three or four essential points. Lord Irwin made offers linking the terms for peace with plans for the continuation of the Round-Table Conference. The Congress Working Committee subsequently discussed the proposals. A statement issued by the Indian Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce, declares that the conference made no appreciable advance.

TERMS REJECTED

(Recd. March 2, 10.20 a.m.) DELHI, March 1.

Lord Irwin made a certain offer to the Congress, as the farthest the Government might be prepared to go, and (he Congress has rejected the terms. Gandhi sees the Viceroy .to-morrow, but it is unlikely that the Congress will call ’bff civil disobedience or participate in a round-table conference. The outlook is uncertain.

Meantime, the Finance member has issued the gloomiest budget for two generations, showing a deficit of fourteen and a-half crores of rupees. Tariff increases, suggested to meet these, will hit Europeans the hardest.

BOYCOTT OF CENSUS

DELHI, February 28.

The boycott measures by the Congressists are seriously hampering the census now in operation. India-wide tactics in Bombay include the snatching of books from the enumerators, one of whom was attacked by a mob.