Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1932 THE INDIAN COMMUNITIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LII, Issue 229, 27 August 1932, Page 6

Manawatu Evening Standard. SATURDAY, AUGUST 27, 1932 THE INDIAN COMMUNITIES.

A week after the British Government’s announcement of its provisional scheme for the settlement of the Indian communal problem, an official message has been issued summarising opinions garnered from the Press of India. No greater interest has been aroused there, it is stated, since the publication of the Simon Report. The reason is not difficult to find. The communal trouble was confidently believed to be the rock upon which the movement toward self-government in India would be shattered, if the matter of representation were to be left to the diverse races to decide for themselves. Great Britain gave a full opportunity to reach an agreement, but at the 6ame time warned the contending factions, chiefly the Hindus and Moslems, that if they failed to do so the problem would be settled for them. Hindus and Moslems, however, could not suppress the flames of animosity that burn deep within them, one against the other, and in compliance with her expressed policy Great Britain has prepared a provisional scheme arranging for the basis of representation of the various parties in the Provincial Legislatures. For the time being consideration of the representation in the Central Legislatures has been deferred. When, a few weeks ago, the Secretary for India (Sir Samuel Hoart) announced in the House of Commons that the Government w r ould be introducing a single Bill to give effect to its policy, he stressed the important fact that a federation of all India was an essential feature of that policy. “It follows, therefore,” he said, “that the units concerned must be prepared actually to federate, and that the proposals to be laid before Parliament to this end must be complete in all essentials. In particular there must be a reasonable assurance forthcoming at the time the Bill is introduced that the financial and other provisions for the cementing of the structure will enable provinces, States, the Federal Government, and Parliament alike adequately and harmoniously to fulfill their several functions, and that the interests which require to be safeguarded shall be assured of practical and efficient protection.” The Secretary for India, emphasising that the time had arrived when large preliminary conferences to discuss -ways and means had ceased to be profitable, said the Government would spare no effort to secure the fulfilment of the conditions lie had outlined, and to remove all obstacles in the way. The Government, while formulating its scheme, gives the communities a further opportunity to produce their own, but says definitely it must be supported by

all the parties affected. Judged in the light of previous experience, this is impossible of accomplishment, but Mr MacDonald, who also issues a statement with the scheme, apparently yet believes the communal factions will cease -warring. Favouring the present system of separate electorates in preference to joint electorates, the scheme provides for constituencies for Mohammedans, the depressed classes, Sikhs, Indians, Christians, Anglo-Indians and Europeans, and special constituencies for women, industry, landholders, universities and labour. The Government has had the benefit of the report of the committee which enquired into the franchise for the Federal Legislature which, when established, will be charged with the affairs of about 338 million people, a number nearly three times as great, it has been said, as has ever before been brought within the structure of a single democratically governed State. Indian opinion, according to the latest message, follows anticipated lines. The Nationalist Press, predominantly Hindu, expresses intense indignation with the scheme, but it is not apparent how much of the opposition is due to communal antagonism. The Moslems, it is stated, realise the advantages they are likely to gain, especially in the Punjab, but the Sikhs and depressed classes are not convinced with their allotted representation. The opinions of other minorities are reported to be not unfavourable. The British Government has expressed the hope that, once a pronouncement has been made on the proportion of representation, the communities will reach a modus vivendi on the other aspects of the communal problem. Realising her responsibilities, Great Britain has formulated concrete and definite proposals for submission to Indian opinion. The opposition that has been expressed to them is another illustration of the great difficulty in settling the communal question. Until this has been effected the way to self-government in India is definitely barred.