FEDERATED INDIA

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22065, 22 March 1935, Page 11

FEDERATED INDIA

ATTITUDE OF PRINCES CO-OPERATION ESSENTIAL British Wireless RUGBY, March 20 The. attitude of the Indian Princes toward the Government of India Bill was discussed in the House of Commons in* the light of the White Paper published on Tuesday, in which the criticisms of the Princes and the comments thereon of the Secretary of Stats for India, Sir Samuel Hoare, were set out.. Formidable as those criticisms might look at first sight, said Sir- Samuel, he believfed they were adjustable. In support of this .the Minister cited the opinion expressed in correspondence by the Princes themselves that " it is still not Beyond the sphere of statesmanship to adjust our differences in such a manner as would lead to a satisfactory and desired result." TJhe documents reproduced in *th« White Paper showed that there were about 30 points upon which the Princes felt doubt, and about one-third of these points were due simply to misunderstanding. Difficulty of Princes' Accession Of the other two-thirds the great majority were points -where the drafting could be readjusted without the sacri-fice-of any substantial principle in the bill. All except two points ought to be capable of comparatively easy adjustment. * Sir Samuel said he had always admitted that the accession of the Princes into the federation would be difficult and complicated. His advisers, however, had been in close consultation with the legal advisers of the Indian States. The latter, of course, could not bind the Princes in any way; but the views of both parties had been discussed in detail and the discussion had not revealed any differences which appeared to ~be incapable of adjustment. Regarding misunderstandings on the question of paramountcy, it was not the case that the bill could not be proceeded with until the Princes' claims on this subject were settled. The Princes were not buing asked here and now to accede).' Parliament was passing the best bill it could and was taking into account as fully as possible all the various interests of British and Indian, those of the Indian States and those of Britain and the Empire. Paramountcy Position Improved The Princes hacl always claimed thai, they could give no final answer as to' their accession until the bill was on the Statute Book, said the Minister. If they acceded there would be federation; if not there would be no federation. So far from making the Princes' position in regard td paramountcy worse, however, the bill would make it better, but that question was one that must' be dealt with in the normal way in India. It effected all the Princes, whether they federated or not. and whether the bill were passed or not. If British India was ever to achieve its full status in the British Empire, an all-India federation was essential with the Princes for all time having that share in the government of the .Continent to which they were entitled. Sir Samuel said he believed the differences at issue could be honourably adjusted in full harmony with the interests of both sides.