DOMINIONS AND INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18335, 27 February 1923, Page 7

DOMINIONS AND INDIA.

IGNORANCE OF EACH OTHER CAUSE OF RACIAL PREJUDICE. MR. SASTRI'S REPORT. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. A. and N.Z. DELHI, Feb. 25. Mr. V. S. Srinivasa Sastri's report on his visit to the Dominions of Australia, New Zealand, and Canada to further India's desire that practical effect be given to the Imperial Conference resolution recommending the grant of equal rights of citizenship to Indians in all parts of the Empire, has been published. Mr. Sastri reviews actual achievement in the removal of disabilities from Indians, and prospective reforms. He emphasises the constitutional and educative value of his mission, and says that India's progress in the last 60 years is not known to the outside world. He points out that Dominion citizens have no opportunity of meeting Indians of refinement and culture, without which experience it is • impossible to. dispose of the phantom superiority born of imperfect appreciation of Indian capacity. The best solvent for this prejudice is closer intercourse by the promotion of active trade relations between India and the Dominions, which so far have been lacking. 1 Mr. Sastri hopes that educated Indians will do all that is possible to stimulate a desire in . the Dominions to understand i India. He suggests the appointment of , an agent of the Raj in Australia and New Zealand to protect the interests of Indians there. The report concludes with a tribute to the generous treatment accorded , him in the Dominions.