POLICY IN INDIA

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 5, 5 December 1931, Page 7

POLICY IN INDIA

BRITISH DECLARATION. . GANDHI'S OPPOSITION. “PARTING OF THE WAYS.” (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) Received December 5, 8.5 a.m. LONDON, Dec. 4. “I have formed a tentative conclusion that Mr MacDonald's declaration means a parting of the ways,” said Gandhi in an interview. “However, I promised to read the declaration three times before deciding any way. There is no possibility of a revival of civil disobedience in connection with the declaration, which is a national affair, until 1 have reached India and discussed the decisions with the Congress Committee, although the committee is entitled to begin disobedience in connection with local grievances. “If the Bengal ordinance is persisted with, it might lead to disobedience on a national scale, because there is no justification for an ordinance which means legalised martial law, whereas ordinary law is sufficient to deal with the situation. No self-respecting nation could accept such a tiling as the Bengal ordinance, for in my opinion it is unworthy of a civilised government.” AN EFFECTIVE SPEECH. The debate on the India policy declaration in the House of Commons excited the keenest interest. Mr Churchill’s speech was among the most effective he has ever made. It would not bo safe to assume from the division that the House was practically wholly hostile, or that Mr Churchill did not represent a section of opinion in the House of Commons and countrv.

The Parliamentary correspondents of the Morning Post and the Daily Telegraph unite in testifying to that remarkable reception accorded the speech. The cheering grew in volume and enthusiasm as the speech lengthened. The Telegraph says: “The majority of those cheering probably had no intention of voting in favour of the amendment, though there were a few moments when even this seemed possible.”

LESSONS FROM CONFERENCE. “Having educated the Indians for two or three generations, and encouraged their students to come to Oxford, Cambridge, and London, we cannot turn round and say: ‘Democracy is for us and not for you,’ ” said Mr Stanley Baldwin speaking in the debate on Indian policy in the House of Commons. “That is an impossible position. The conference has not been a failure. It has taught us a. lot, and it has taught the Indians a lot.” Mr Baldwin hoped that whatever Constitution was framed village life would play a great part and would not be sacrificed to urban life as it had been in England. What the Government was asking was the approval of the House to the general lines on which it was going to proceed. Courage and statesmanship were called for, and the Government desired to be fortified by a large majority, which would give it a mandate of goodwill to deal with one of the greatest tasks the Empire ever entered upon. GOVERNMENT’S PROPOSALS. SUPPORT OF THE COUNTRY. (British Official Wireless.) (Received December 5. 11.0 a.m. RUGBY, Dec. 4. The House of Commons endorsed the Government’s Indian policy by 369 votes to 43.

In the later stages of the rebate it became clear that the statements made oji behalf of the Government, including that of Sir John Simon, satisfied all but a small minority. Mr J. S. Wardlaw-Milne, chairman of the Conservative Indian Committee, said that the House need have no hesitation in accepting the Government’s proposals. Mr Nolson (Conservative) opposed Mr Churchill’s amendment as being calculated to prejudice good relations in India. He hoped that Gandhi and the Congress would see the spirit of the Irwin-Gandhi agreement now being broken by the boycott of British mills in India was carried out. Sir Austen Chamberlain said that Mr Churchill was asking for something no honourable body could approve. Mr George Lansbury said that they were most anxious to see the negotiations continue.

The News Chronicle says: “'The division showed in the plainest possible manner that the Government was authorised to pursue thq policy defined by the Prime Minister and Sir Samuel Hoare. Any doubts in India or elsewhere as to whether the country is behind the Government policy are now settled.”

CONGRESS AGITATION

NON-PAYMENT OF RENT,

CALCUTTA, Dec. 3,

The situation in the United Provinces as a result of the Congress agitation among the peasants for a “norent agitation,” is causing the Government some concern, and is the subject of prolonged discussions by the Viceroy’s Executive Council. ’ Measures to cope witlr the movement are likely to be taken next week. Coolies working in a jungle near the village of Tezzaon, five miles from Dacca, East Bengal, discovered a tin trunk containing 23 empty aluminium bombshells similar to those used in the attempt to assassinate Sir Charles Tegart, the Police Commisisoner, last year.

NEWSPAPER COMMENT

LONDON, Dec. 4

The Morning Post editorially says:— “The Government is faced with one paramount duty—to restore tranquillity in India. The Government will serve the best interests if it makes clear that self-government will be granted only to good subjects and, as Lord Montagu said, to an extent to which it is found that confidence can lie reposed in their responsibility.”