HOME RULE FOR INDIA

Manawatu Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 2727, 9 July 1925, Page 7

HOME RULE FOR INDIA

Birkenhead Invites Scheme From Critics CONSTITUTION MUCH QUALIFIED SUCCESS. [By Electric Cable —Copyright.] [Aunt, and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Received Wednesday, 8.40 p.m.) LONDON, July 8. The eagerly-awaited speech by Lord Birkenhead on his Indian policy followed the lines of the accurate Australian press forecast. Lord Birkenhead began by declaring no short or dogmatic answer could be given to the question. Had the Constitution of 1919 succeeded ? It had neither altogether succeeded nor failed. Parliament had provided a constitution which after ten years should be reviewed by a Royal Commission. It w'ould undoubtedly require such revision and it could not be too plainly stated that everything would necessarily be thrown into a melting pot. Diarchy itself was obviously not a sacred principle, but must be decided by results.

Regarding the date of revision, in Lord Birkenhead’s view it was not the intention of the legislature to shackle succeeding Governments, but the essentia 1 condition remained clear and precise there would and could not be reconsideration until they saw everything among the leaders of Indian thought evidence of a genuine desire to co-operate in making tire best of the existing constitution. The Swarajist party had unhappily so rar thrown its powerful weight on. the other scale.

Lord Birkenhead proceeded to offer full consideration to any responsible scheme advanced by his Indian critics. He added, regarding the Merriman report, that it was on the lines of the majority report on any immediate action that must be taken. Many recommendations could be carried out by regulations. Lord Birkenhead concluded eloquently. “There will be no ‘lost Dominion,’ nor will there be until the moment, if it ever comes, when the whole British Empire, with all that it means is splintered in doom.”

The “Morning Rost” says: “The concesions will not placate the implacable minority who have captured the Indians’ electoral machinery. What have the experiments done.eithcr for India or the Empire ? India and Britain are to be left in doubt while Lord Reading pursues his vacillations in India and Lord Birkenhead supports them at home. Lord Birkenhead’s cajoleries of Indian politicians to cooperate, or produce a constitution of their own, seem ominous.”

The “Post” also says: “Wo tell the Government frankly that if there is any more tampering with Home Rule in India, it will come down over it, just as the Coalition fell over Home Rule in Ireland.”

The “Daily Telegraph” says the Government’s reply to the language menace and tactics of political sabotage will be cordially approved. The “Daily Herald” remarks that Lord Birkenhead suffers from the faults of pomposity, over emphasis and emptiness. He was obliged to confess that Ministers, after two Cabinets, could not agree regarding an Indian policy. OUTSIDE INDIA. OTHER DOMINION’S DIFFICULTY (Received Wednesday 11.20 p.m.) LONDON, July 8. .Lord Birkenhead, in dealing with Indians in the Empire, asked other parts to remember how profoundly this problem affected relations between the Empire and India. He knew their difficulties and only asked that in every measure they took, they should exhaust every effort to avoid such discrimination as must deeply wound the ancient and dignified peoples of India.