NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20601, 27 June 1930, Page 12

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

THE INDIAN PROGRAMME. It was recently remarked by the Times that there are five distinct stages in the process of reviewing and revising the Indian Constitution —namely (1) the report of the Statutory Commission; (2) a free discussion with the representatives of India; (3) the formulation of proposals by the Imperial Government, whether before or after (4) the deliberations of a Joint Parliamentary Committee; and finally (5) the legislative approval of Parliament itself, with which the ultimate responsibility remains. Each stage has its own essential place in the process, and the Report is inevitably the basis and the starting-point of them all. October 20 has been tentatively proposed as the date for the opening of the Round Table Conference—between His Majesty's Government, the British Indian representatives, and the delegates from the Indian States. Thus there is to be a period of four months in which the contents of the Report may be digested before the discussion with the spokesmen of India which is to precede any. decisions by the Imperial Parliament. " It has become the fashion among Indian politicians in these days to disparage the Report by comparison with the Conference—as though the one were in some sense an alternative superseding the other," the Times observed. " They may usefully be reminded that it was Sir John Simon himself who took the initiative in putting forward the project of the Conference, and that no conference could possibly be of any value, so far as the British public is concerned, which was not based upon an informed appreciation of the state of India compiled by their chosen emissaries."

REPRESENTATIVES OF INDIA. The text of correspondence regarding the Indian Conference, comprising a letter from the Prime Minister, dated March 26, and the Viceroy's reply, dated April 17, was published last month. Mr. Ramsay Mac Donald referred to " the conference that His Majesty's Government on the proposition of Sir John Simon have oxpressed tlieir readiness to convene." He suggested that It " should open immediately after the close of the Imperial Conference. The Indian representatives might reach London about October 20, when the Imperial Conference, which has already been summoned to meet on September 30, may be expected to have made good progress with its business. It is possible that those who will come from India may bo not unwilling to arrive in London while tho Imperial Conference is still in session and to utilise any brief time available before the regular work of the Indian Conference could begin, for informal consultations." He invited Lord Irwin's advice as to tha best method of " securing that those who will speak for British India should fairly represent the different parties and interests concerned," including the ruling princes and chiefs. In his reply, the Viceroy wrote:—" It is important that the representation of In'dia on the Confer ence should bo fairly distributed among the sections of those who desire and have a title to be heard, and, after examining several alternative methods and discussing the matter freely with men of widely differing opinions, I have found the predominant view to be (hat a fair distribution of representation cannot bo assured by any process except that of invitation, in consultation, where possible, with the interests concerned. After careful reflection, I am disposed to roach tho same conclusion. In regard to tho States, I see no cause, to anticipate difficulty in a decision being reached'as to the personnel of States' side of the Conference which would be generally acceptable."