INDIA POLICY

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 4, 4 December 1931, Page 8

INDIA POLICY

3.15 P.M. EDITION

MR CHURCHILL’S AMENDMENT,

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received December 4,2 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 3.

In the House of Commons to-day, dealing with the Government’s India policy, Mr Winston Churchill moved his amendment, despite the explanations offered by the Prime Minister and Sir Samuel Iloare. Air Churchill, while accepting Sir Samuel Hoare’s statement that they had to reconcile the obligations of the long British partnership with India with the legitimate aspirations of the Indians to take a greater part in their own Government, renewed his criticism of the Viceroy’s declaration of October, 1929, as being a departure from constitutional procedure and as prejudicing the work of the Simon Commission, and said that he was bound to make a “rugged affirmation” of his objections. He was answered immediately by Sir John Simon, who said that Air Churchill appeared to be under a misapprehension. The Prime Alinister’s statement at the close of the Round Table Conference was not a document prepared by one individual, but by the united and deliberate decision of the whole Cabinet. Air Churchill’s speech increased the desirability that the House should confirm the Government’s policy. The cleavage was between those who really meant actively to promote the achievement of responsible Government in India and those who did not. He would be the last to deny that there were difficulties, but how they rated as obstacles was not the question. The question was what was the underlying spirit and purpose of Parliament. Many Indians sinoercly doubted the intention of British statesmen. He asked the House, by unanimous support or the declaration made on behalf of die whole Cabinet, to make it plain that the achievement of responsible Government in India was the definite purpose of British policy. Referring to Air Churchill’s amendment, he said that there had ne.ver been, from the beginning to the end, any doubt as to securing in the future Indian constitution proper guarantees not only as to British trading rights, but the rights of the minorities as a whole. , , - Air Churchill’s amendment was defeated by 369 votes to 43.

Air Churchill’s motion provides that nothing in the Government’s policy will commit t)be House to tho establishment of a Dominions constitution in India as defined by the Statute of Westminster, and that there must be safeguards for British trade in India from prejudicial discriminations: also a provision that no extension of selfgovernment in India will impair the British Parliament’s ultimate responsibility for the peace, order and good government of India.