INDIAN CONSTITUTION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20743, 10 December 1930, Page 13

INDIAN CONSTITUTION.

PROBLEM OF MINORITIES.

STATES AND FEDERATION. SEPARATION OF BURMA. WORK OF THE COMMITTEES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. British/ Wireless. IiUUBY, Dec. 8. There were informal and perfectly friendly discussions both on Saturday and to-day between tho Hindu and Moslem delegates to the Indian Round-table Conference with the object of reaching adjustments on the minority question. Meanwhile reports that tho Government had taken sides in tho so-called deadlock on this difficult issue are authoritatively described as absolutely untrue. Tho Government has not yet approached tho subject itself at all, and while naturally it is taking a keen interest in it, it continues to regard the solution as primarily a matter for the Indian communities. Tho problem is one that has engaged attention for years, and tho fact that the conversations in London which havo taken place between the Indian delegates during the last few weeks have not as yet provided a solution is no justification for excessive pessimism. The discussions between the Indian delegates are entirely free from friction and are marked by a mutual desire to reach an accommodation on the longstanding and unquestionably intricate problem. There arc sub-committees of tho conference at work on the subjects of federal relations, the provincial constitutions, and tho separation of Burma from India. The Federal Relations Sub-committee is meeting twice daily, in the hope that its report will be ready for presentation to the final conference early next week. Separate Convention Scheme. It is understood that those delegates who take the view that federation is the only practicable method of achieving a united India havo expressed frankly their views on the conditions under which they would be willing to take part. I hey feel that tho States should enter the scheme individually, by separate conventions, and that all tho States could retain their sovereignty and full internal independence, save where sovereignty may be sacrificed for federal purposes. Before any final decision is reached, however, the Princes desire a precise elucidation of the position with regard to finance and the provinces in British India. It was made clear in the discussions that they would not be prepared to federate with British India as it is today. Meetings were held to-day of the three sub-committees. The Burma sub-commit-tee discussed various aspects of the constitutional issues arising in connection with the separation proposal, but no definite proposals to be sent forward by the committee to the Round-table Conference have as yet been reached. It is, however, generally agreed that the legitimate interests of tho Indian and other minorities in Burma must be safeguarded. The Requirements of Burma.

The committee considers that when details of the constitution for Burma are being discussed the fullest opportunity should be given io all the minorities and the Government of India to represent their views, and to state the nature and extent of the safeguards considered necessary. The committee considers that adequate attention should be paid to the question of the immigration of Indian labourers, and that provision should be made for regulation of the conditions of work and life of the immigrant. Tho committee also specially stressed the importance of there being no discrimination regarding Indians entering Burma. Tho Federal Structure Sub-committee resumed the discussion of the component elements of tho federation, the typo of the federal legislature, the number of Chambers of which it should consist, and the powers of tho Federal Legislature and heard representative views of the Princes and the British Indian delegates. At tho Provincial Constitutional Subcommittee there were long discussions on the provision that should be made on tho abolition of tho dyarchy for the maintcnance of law and order, which it was felt must become the responsibility of the Provincial Legislature. Resolutions to be Submitted. The discussion by tho Burma sub-com-mittee ranged over a wide field under the following headings: (1) Tho nature of the constitutional advances for Burma on separation; (2) tho best method for securing that the interests of minorities should bo given adequate protection; (3) tho procedure for tho necessary financial settlements between India and Burma, and the arrangements for the defence of Burma after separation; (4) tho desirability for continuing tho central services, such as scientific services; (5) the desirability of promoting suitable arrangements to facilitate trade between India and Burma.

lb is proposed to sol out, the decisions of the sub-coinmitt.cn in resolutions. The sub-committee to-day decided that tho financial question could bo dealt with in the manner recommended in the Government of India s despatch. Another resolution expressed tho hope that tho adjustment of relations would be effected in a spirit of reason and conciliation. Another resolution recognised tho importance of making adequate arrangements for tho defence of Burma, which would demand the advice of expert military authorities with the exception of the minorities' resolution mentioned above. However, theso were merely draft resolutions. Princes and Federation. Tho Princes have to some extent cleared the ground in the federal structure subcommittee by defining tuoir point of view regarding tho component elements. They consider that tho Indian States lepresentatlves should bo chosen by the Government of the Stales, and not by the Princes. The- States should conio in individually by convention. All the States should retain sovereignly and full internal independence, excepting tho features of sovereignty which would bo

sacrificed for federal purposes. The intorests of all the smaller States, which should bo grouped, should be safeguarded. Tho grouping should be a matter for tho States themselves, and be settled by tho Chamber of Princes. On tho other side, tho component clement would be British India. Before coming to a decision, however, the Princes desire to know what the position would be regarding the centre and ihe provinces in British India, and mado it clear

that they did not desire to federate with British India as it exists to-day. It was also inado clear that no State should be coerced to join the federation, and for this reason the method of a convention, the States signing individually, was put forward.

On tlie British Indian side preference was expressed for a federation of autonomous provinces, and for p, Legislature of two Chambers. Regarding federation with tho Indian States, a unitary federation, in which tho States and British India would work together in the same federal bodies was favoured with the Princes or their representatives in both Chambers.

Regarding reserved subjects, such as defenco and external relations, it was suggested that during the transitional period they must be in charge of the Viceroy, but should ultimately also become federal subjects. The provincial constitutional sub-com-miLLeo discussed tho headings dealing with tho constitution and composition of tho executive powers of the Governor vis-a-vis his executive and legislative administration, law and order, and the rights of minorities in tho provinces. The discussion was general and followed on tho general agreement reached favouring tho abolition of tho dyarchy. It was revealed that the general feeling favouring tho administration of law and order was the appointment of official Ministers and statutory provisions creating a Chief Minister for the Government. The views for and against a second Chamber were expressed, and regarding tho powers of the Governor it was agreed that he should be invested with certain powers in the event of a breakdown of the Government, but there was general opposition to the powers of ratification of bills passed by the Legislature, and of tho restoration of grants already cut down. Tho discussion will be continued tomorrow, when the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, Mr. A. Henderson, will summarise tho sense of the meeting.