INDIA’S ADVANCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 2 December 1940, Page 6

INDIA’S ADVANCE

TOWARDS FULL EQUAL PARTNERSHIP IN THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH MR AMERY SPEAKS OF DELHI CONFERENCE [British Official Wireless) Received 2nd Dec., 1 1.30 a.m. RUGBY, Ist December. In a speech Mr L. M. S. Amery, Secretary of State for India, spoke of the Delhi conference which he described as being a significant example of both the character and resources of the British Commonwealth. Conference’s work led to a realisation of the possibilities of co-operation and distribution, which will add to an extent hitherto undreamt of to the munitions output of the countries which met at Delhi, said Mr Amery.

Recalling Mr Churchill’s words, Mr Amery said that the conference had indeed called into being a new world of armed strength to redress the balance of the old. Of its effect on the future Mr ! Amery said that it was of special significance for India, although her internal constitutional development had not yet attained that full measure of selfgovernment which was the goal of Britain and that attainment depended more upon agreement between the Indian states as to the right nature of the constitution than upon the British Government.

Mr Amery pointed out that the Delhi conference had been laying for India the foundations of increased industrial and defensive power which were essential conditions in the world of to-day for true self-government. Concluding, Mr Amery said: “In spite of artificial political agitations and party manoeuvres, India is I believe in fact steadily advancing towards that full equal partnership in the British Commonwealth which we are pledged to help her to attain.”