MOSLEM’S FINAL OFFER

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 January 1931, Page 5

MOSLEM’S FINAL OFFER

SEATS IN PARLIAMENT

FORTY-NINE PER CENT. WANTED CONFERENCE AT DEADLOCK. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, Jan. 14, At the meeting of the minorities committee of the Indian conference to,ay when a renewed effort was made to solve the HincVu-Mosliem problem Sir Mohammed Shah's proposal was described by Dr. Moonje, the Hindu leader, as showing a, spirit of accommodation. Sir Muhammed Sihafi recalled that m the previous negotiations certain approaches to an agreement had been made It was over the representation in the Punjab and Bengal, where Moslems were in a majority, that the failure had occurred. . He was now authorised by _t.be -Moslem delegation to make the offer - that Punjab Moslems should have througn the communal electorates 49 per cent, of the entire number of seats in the Whole House and should have liberty to contest the special constituencies wihch it was proposed to create there; that in Bengal Moslems should have through the communal electorates 46 per cent, representation m tli© whittle House and the right to contest the special constituencies there and that in so far as the minority provinces were concerned Moslems should continue to enjoy the weightage they had at present through the separate electorates a similar weightage tobegrven Hindus' in Sind and Sikhs in the Nortnwest Frontier province. If at any time two-thirds of tne lepresentatives of any community in any provincial legislative council or m the cental legislative council desired to five up the communal electorates and accept joint electorates, then thereafter a system of joint electorates could conic into being in that - particular provincial or central legislature a® the case migtht he. MAJORITY IN MINORITY.

Th result of the proposal in Bengal would he that Aloslems would remain in a permanent mmority althon^ithej constituted a majority of the popula tion. The special constituencies it was ..op-msed to set up were such tout Mos lems could hope at the best to secure onlv one seat—Dacca University—m the Pimjab. They might secure two of the special constituency - seat®, in which case they might have a majority of ° n Sir Muhammed Shaft said it was the Modems’ final offer. They could not possibly agree to any greater sacn fice than it involved. . Mr Srinivasa Sastn said he had listened to the offer, with respect. He and his friends believed that the din culties were capable of settlement, and indeed had been more or less, settled in regard to the greater part ot India- they remained only in Bengali and the Punjab. This offer was one which it seemed might be accepted by these two provinces. He pointed out that the non-settlement of the Hindu-Alos-lem problem imperilled the whole work <,f M t ? e TjlSsS'said the Silks could in no case have more than 24 per cent., representation in the Punjab council Sir P H. Mitter feared that the offer would 1 not lead to peace m Bengal and for that reason he considered it, Un Mr' e Nath e 'Sind a delegate from the Punjab, potted out that 32 per cent of his population would be reduced by the offer to having 17 per cent, repre-sentation-si Moon - e; t p e Hindu Alahasabha leader, expressed . theopimon that if the spirit inspiring the otter was strengthened; and continued lie thought accommodation was at last within sight. , , „ The committee adjourned so that a few representative members oil each side should consider the situation privately with Air. MacDonald present as conciliator, but the meeting failed to reach an agreement. It is understood that the disagreement was reduced! to the narrowest possible margin Actual v an agreement was reached between Hindus and Aloslems and the delegates, representing both committees joined in making an appeal to the Sikhs' who,, however, refused to give way.

HOPES OF AGREEMENT. DIFFERENCES REiDUCED. (British Official 'Wireless.) Received 11 a.m., to-day. RUGBY, Jan. 15. , In view of the narrow margin ot difference that remains on the minorities question a,s a result of yesterday’s developments, hopes are entertained m Indian Conference circles that efforts to effect a settlement of the problem will not be abandoned and may be brought to a successful issue before the delegates disperse. The conference will end on Monday when the Prime Minister wifi make a statement of the Government’s policy. The Minorities Sub Committee will have a final meeting to-morrow. Reports of the various sub-commit-tees were presented to the conference this morning.