FUTURE OF INDIA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 42, 20 January 1931, Page 2

FUTURE OF INDIA

3.45 P.M. EDITION

CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS

STATEMENT BY MR MACDONALD

(United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph. Copyright) Received January 20, 1.10 p.m. RUGBY, Jan. 19. The long-waited statement of Government policy was made by the Prime Minister, Mr Ramsay MacDonald, at the close of this afternoon’s final Plenary Session of the Indian Round Table Conference.

“The view ed the Government is that responsibility for the Government of India should be placed upon Legislatures, Central and Provincial, with such provisions as are necessary to guarantee during the period of transition the observance of certain obligations, and to meet other special circumstances, and also with such guarantees as are required by the minorities to protect their political liberties and rights in such statutory safeguards as may be made for meeting the needs of the transitional period. It will be the primary ooncern of His Majesty’s Government to see that the reserved powers are framed and exercised as not to prejudice the advance of , India through the new constitution to full responsibility for her own Government. “The Government, whiUt making this declaration, is aware that some conditions essential to the working of such a constitution as contemplated have not been finally settled, but believes,- as a result of the work done here, that they have been brought to a point which encourages the hope that further negotiations after the declaration will be successful. “The Government has taken note of the fact that the deliberations of the conference have proceeded on a basis accepted by all parties —that the Central Government should be a Federation of all-India, embracing bptli the Indian States and British India in a Federal Legislature. The precise form and structure of the new Federal Government must be determined after fuij ther discussion with the Princes and representatives of British India. “The range of subjects to be committed to it will also require further discussion, because the Federal Government will have authority only in such matters concerning the States as will be ceded by their rulers in the agreement made by them on entering into the Federation. “The connection of the States with the Federation will remain subject to tho basic principle that in regard to all matters not ceded by them to the Federation their relations will be with the Crown, acting through the agency of the Viceroy. With the Legislature constituted on a Federal basis, the British Government will be prepared to recognise the principle of the responsibility of the Executive to the Legislature. Under the existing conditions the subjects of defence and external affairs will be reserved to the GovernorGeneral, and arrangements be made to place in his hands the powers necessary for the administration of those subjects. Moreover, as the Gov-ernor-General must as a last resort be able in emergency, to maintain .the tranquillity of a State, and must similarly be responsible for the observance of the constitutional rights of minorities, he must be granted the necessary power for those purposes.

conditions the Central Legislature and executive will have some features of dualism, which will have to be fitted into the constitutional structure. The Governors of the Provinces will be constituted on a basis of full responsibility. Their Ministries will be taken from the Legislature and will be jointly responsible to it. Provincial subjects will be so defined as to give them the greatest possible measure of self-government. LIMITED AUTHORITY.

The authority of the Federal' Government will be limited to the provisions required to secure its administration of Federal subjects and to the discharge of its responsibility _for the subjects defined n the constitution as of All-India concern. There will be reserved to the Governor only that minimum of special powers which are required in oruer to secure in exceptional circumstances the preservation of tranquillity, and in order to guarantee maintenance of the rights provided by statute for public services and minorities.

“Finally the Government considers that the institution in the Provinces of responsible government requires both that the legislatures should be enlarged and that they should be based on a more liberal franchise. In framing the constitution the Government considers that it will be its duty to insert provisions guaranteeing to * the various minorities, in addition to political representation, that differences of religion, 'race, sect or caste shall not in themselves constitute civic disabilities. “In the opinion of the Government it is the duty of the communities to come to an agreement amongst themselves on the points raised by the Minorities sub-committee, but not settled there. . During the continuing negotiations such an agreement ought to be reached, and the Government will continue to render what good offices it can. The Government will consider without delay a plan by which our cooperation may be continued, so that the results of our completed work may be seen in the new Indian constitution.

... “If, in the meantime, there is a response to the Viceroy’s appeal to those engaged at present in civil disobedience, and others wish to co-operate on the general lines of this declaration, steps will be taken to enlist their services.” END OF CONFERENCE. MEASUREMENT OF PROGRESS.

Received January 20, 10 a.m. LONDON, Jan 19

FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. “As regards finance, the transfer of financial responsibility must necessarily be subject to such 'conditions as will ensure the fulfilment of obligations incurred under the authority of the Secretary of State and the maintenance unimpaired of the financial stability and credit of India. Subject to these provisions the Indian Government would have full financial responsibility for the methods of raising revenue, and for the control of expenditure on non-reserved services. This will mean that under the existing

The Round Table Conference on India concluded to-day. Just as Ranjitsinhji, after reading the King’s message in reply to the delegates’ message expressing gratitude for the Royal favour so graciously bestowed, announced that it was signed by His Majesty’s own hand, the Coldstream Guards’ band, in the tapestry room next to the conference chamber, struck up the National Anthem. The Sultan Ahmed shouted. “Three cheers for the King Emperor!” The cheers were given fnll-throatedly and were followed by cheers for Mr Ramsay MacDonald, Captain Wedgwood Benn and Lord Sankey. While the conference was breaking up, amid much hand shaking, the Coldstream Band played “Auld Lang Syne.”