INDIA POLICY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 306, 10 December 1931, Page 8

INDIA POLICY

HOUSE OF LORDS DEBATE SPEECH BY FORMER VICEROY. EVOLUTION OF RELATIONS. British Official Wireless Service. Rugby, Dec. 8. A debate took place to-night in the House of Lords on a motion approving the Government’s Indian policy as set out in the recent White Paper giving the statement made by the Prime Minister at the close of the Bound Table Conference. The Under-Secretary for India, Lord Lothian, expressed the belief that the work done by the two round table conferences represented a stage in the evolution of relations between India and Britain the importance of which it was impossible to exaggerate. The foundation of the new constitution for India must rest on three principles which had emerged from the discussions of the last four years—namely, federation, responsibility and safeguards. He intimated that the Government could not accept an amendment qualifying the terms of the White Paper which was subsequently moved by Lord Lloyd and opposed by Lord Sankey on the grounds that it would excite suspicion in India. Great as had beon British achievement in India for the welfare of the people, much remained to be done. Lord Sankey, referring to abstractions current in recent discussions, such as dominion status, said he preferred a simple statement that India desired a greater share in the management of her own affairs, and the problem was how this could be accomplished. He believed they were on the eve of a peaceful solution of the Indian problem. Lord Snell, speaking for the Opposition, appealed to the Indian people to trust Britain. FORMER, VICEROY’S VIEWS. Lord Burnham expressed fears regarding the future procedure proposed by the Government. He was followed by Lord Irwin, the former Viceroy, who, in his maiden speech, said he had no doubt a great advance had been made when Britain decided to give India an equal opportunity with itself to be architect of the future constitution. It was foolish to underestimate the common ground that had been achieved between the various groups of delegates at the round table conference. Lord Lloyd had referred to constitutions in eastern countries, but were they not to learn anything from the stirrings in Turkey, Iraq, Persia, China and Japan which manifested themselves in a different way! He believed it a profound delusion to treat events in India as the work of the minority, which, firmly and effectively handled, would fade away and give no more trouble. He expressed the opinion that if a system of political democracy did not suit India once she should be allowed freedom to choose. She would evolve the necessary variations. He welcomed the fact that the Prime Minister’s statement raised the British policy above fear of infraction by political accidents. The debate stands adjourned until to-morrow. BURMA CONFERENCE. KING TO RECEIVE DELEGATES. British Official Wireless Service. Rugby, Dec. 8. At the Burma conference the discussion was continued in committee on the character of the second chamber. This evening the delegates attended the House of Lords to listen to the debate on India. On Thursday morning the delegates will be received by the King at Buckingham Palace.