AFFAIRS OF INDIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20922, 11 July 1931, Page 11

AFFAIRS OF INDIA.

THE MINORITY PROBLEM. POLICY OF GOVERNMENT. British Wireless. RUGBY, July 9. At the request of the Conservatives a discussion took place in the House of Commons on Indian affairs, with particular reference to the Cawnpore riots, Burma and the economic boycott. The former Viceroy, Lord Irwin, was present in the distinguished strangers' gallery. , » Lord Winterton (Conservative) said anxiety had been increase J*" by undue reticence on the part of the Secretary of State for India, Mr. Wedgwood Benn, and his failure to insist on the display and use of force, which, if action had been. taken at the outset, would have saved many lives.

In replying, Mr. Benn described the measures taken as the result of the outbreaks in Burma. The policy of the Government was to endow the local Government with the necessary power and force, but at the same time it was to deal with the economic and political causes underlying the insurrection.

Mr. Benn attributed the decline in Lancashire's trade with India mainly to the depression in purchasing power of the Indian people. The real question was whether the policy of the past two years had been justified and right.

As a result of the Round-Table Conference ambassadors of peace went back to India, and with the brilliant assistance of Lord Irwin were able to secure peace by the pact made with Mr. Gandhi. Here and there they had not achieved what they sought, but there was peace where formerly there was civil disobedience. It was the first article of the policy that the germs of the undertakings reached by Lord Irwin and Mr. Gandhi must be fulfilled in the spirit and the letter. He must say also that without exception that had been the effort of Mr. Gandhi and himself.

Mr. Benn said he hoped in a few weeks' time there would assemble in London a conference fully representative of opinion in India, which in variety, power and influence would be incomparably the most important meeting which had ever taken place. Sir John Simon (Liberal) said it was the duty of the Government, both in India and at Home, not only to hold the scales fairly between the majority and the minority communities, but to satisfy the minorities that it was doing so. He begged the Government to make it clear that, while Mr. Gandhi was no doubt an important figure, Britain was anxious to make the contribution she alone could make, by keeping the balance quite even between all concerned. The debate is proceeding.