Future of India

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 6747, 4 January 1932, Page 8

Future of India

HINDU-MOSLEM .FAILURE END OP ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE LONDON, Nov. 24. During the week-end leading articles in a number of London newspapers have demanded that “an end should be set to the preposterous Round Table Conference.” All these newspapers are controlled by Lord Rothcrmcro and express no moro than his individual opinion, but members of the conference commented on the effect which such a campaign might produce in a case where important international issues were really at stake. Mr. MacDonald offered to arbitrate personally (says tho Daily Mail) between the representatives of the various races and religions at the conference, and finally threatened to intervene. This was a most dangerous move. It was all tho more dangerous because he at the same time threw over a promiso which he had given much earlier — that tho House of Commons should not be committed by any proposals adopted by the Round Table Conference. Thus a political crisis of tho most serious character has arisen, Tho proceedings at the Round Table Conference and its committees have revealed what the Indian extremists have in view. If their demands were acccptond—and a handful of Mr. MacDonald's supporters a-re urging that they should bo accepted—the ruin of tho Indian Empire and. the bankruptcy of this country would becomo inevitable. Mr. Churchill's Warning

Speaking in tho Statute of Westminster debate, Mr. Winston Churchill said: “Contemplate the frightful disaster which would befall India if the full Dominion status set out in this bill wero to become the law in India.” Dominion status, as defined here, would bo incompatible with tho slightest semblance of Imperial authority. In tho fullness of time, and in the nick of time, a Parliament had arrived

which was capable of calling a. halt in these matters (Conservative cheers)— a Parliament which was bound by the obligations of tho past. It was a Parliament willing to face realities, both in Ireland and India. It was a Parliament resolved to preserve tho legal essentials of tho Imperial structure. Ho trusted that tho Government would prove itself at tho beginning of its career in keeping with tho wishes and the feelings of this Parliament. (Loud cheers.) Main Purpose Unimpaired Tho conference (writes tho Parliamentary correspondent of the Times) has not done everything that somo enthusiasts hoped of it—notably tho question of minority representation remains unsolved, though it is nearer to solution than it. was—but it has douo a great deal of useful work. Tho purpose ahead of it—responsibility with safeguards for a federated all India—stands unimpaired, and will bo reaffirmed. And in the meantime, wliiio tho central work goes forward, there are practical steps to bo taken at once, particularly in the sphere of provincial autonomy, to show that tho British Government means business. Apart from tho winding up of the second session, of tho Round Tabic Conference, the two points on which the critics seem to havo fastened arc: 1. Tho Primo Minister’s recent, abortive offer to givo a decision on tho question of communal representation in return for a written undertaking from everyone concerned that it should be accepted and worked; and 2. Tho prospect that he will state the views of tho Government on tho present stage of tile work of tho conference at tho final meeting of tho conference itself, and not in the first instance to the House of Commons. No Reason for Despair As every ono knows, Mr. MacDonald’s very proper condition, of laying down a communal settlement was not fulfilled; but there was every justification for making tho offer. Somo of the Indian delegates were inclined to cover the failuro of the Hiudu-Moslem negotiations by suggesting that tho British Government had stood aloof and would use the deadlock as a pretext for inaction. It was essential to make it clear that every help in settling their differences was at their disposal from the .British Government if they really required it.. No doubt a settlement made among themselves would always bo incomparably better than a settlement sought from outside. Thcro is no Tcason yet to despair altogether of such a settlement. But it may come to the latter alternative in tho end, and the critics who arc complaining of the Primo Minister’s action should bo the last to object to so conspicuous a recognition of Great Britain as the impartial arbiter in Indian quarrels.

Like all tho work of the conference in its present session, the discussions of the Federal Structure Committee (says the Daily Telegraph) are of indispensable value in securing the expression of Indian opinion. 'The conference," it has long been evident, can do little more. General agreement upon outstanding questions has not bc.en found attainable; and in the present case tho Moslem delegates, while waiving their objection to the reserved subjects being debated in the committee, maintain tlicir attitude of. total aloofness from the proceedings in consequence of the refusal of the Hindu majority to concede tlicir communal claims. Incurable disagreement on tho minorities question, which was one for Indians alone, is a major misfortune, and tho means of overcoming it arc still to seek. But apart from that crucial matter tho conference will not have failed. It never was, as a good deal of loose comment would apparently ussumo it to have been, convoked as a constituent assembly on whoso proposals Parliament would automatically confer its sanction. That is a. gross misunderstanding of its position for which thero was never any warrant. If its functions as a consultative body have not. becu discharged so fully and with such a measure of common consent as had been hoped, its proceedings in that capacity will be nevertheless a vital contribution to the task of settlement. The Moslem Attitude In the meantime the Moslem delegation Ims sent the following telegram to Path Abdulla Haroon, president-elect

of tbo All-India. Moslem Conference: “With reference to your cable: V e repeatedly and emphatically placed tho position of the Moslems before tho Government—that until the communal question is settled no constitution that may bo framed will be acceptable to us.” We have not been participating in mittec regarding responsibility at tho the work of the Federal Structure Coniccntve. You need have no anxiety icgarding the Moslem attitude in this conference."