PROBLEM FOR CONFERENCE

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11660, 26 October 1923, Page 6

PROBLEM FOR CONFERENCE

GENERAL SMUTS HOSTILE TO GRANT OF CITIZEN-SHIT. GRAVE CRISIS. By Telegraph. —Press Assn. —Copyright. Reuter’s Telegiam. LONDON, October 24. The Indian delegates at the Imperial Conference have been most active, seeking to make an Empire crisis out of their claims' for equal recognition a 6 citizens. They base their demands on the resolutions of the 1921 Conference. The Indians complain that nothing was done to give effect, to the resolutions, which granted them full citizenship where they have been lawfully admitted to reside in the dominions. Air Bruce and Air Massey have little difficulty in meeting the Indian wishes as far as their own dominions are concerned ; but they are likely enough to walk warily in the light of the difficulties confronting Canada and South Africa. THE KENYA QUESTION. The Indians are infuriated by th© disabilities imposed on them in the Kenya colony, which they regard a© having been engineered by General Smuts, though Kenya is outside the South African Unipn. There is reason to believe that General Smuts is taking the stiffest attitude on the whole question, and is likely to resist any considerable measure of citizenship rights to the 76,000 of the Indian race now> within the Union. Tlie Indians will ask for committees to examine the problems of each dominion for tho purpose of making effectual the 1921 resolutions in those dominions which assented. They claim to have behind them the united national sentiment, embracing all creeds and classes. Just how much is behind their claim will measure the gravity of the crisis.