FUTURE OF INDIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19527, 9 July 1925, Page 9

FUTURE OF INDIA

QUESTION OF HOME RULE. TIME NOT YET RIPE. REVISION OF CONSTITUTION Preai Association —By Telegraph—Copyxignt. LONDON, July 8. (Received July 8, at 10.40 p.m.) The eagerly-awaited speech by the Earl of Birkenhead (Secretary of Stats for India.) on Indian policy followed the lines of the Australian press forecast of last month. The Earl uf Birkenhead began by declaring that no short or dogmatic answer could be given to the question—Has the Constitution of 1919 succeeded It had neither altogether succeeded nor failed. Parliament nad provided that the Constitution, after XU years, should be reviewed by Royal Commission. It would undoubtedly require such revision, and it could not be too plainly stated that everything would necessarily be thrown into* the melting pot. Diarchy itself .obviously was not a sacred principle, but it must be decided by results. Regarding tlie date of revision, in. Lord Birkenhead’s view, it was not the intention of the Legislature to shackle succeeding Governments, but tire essential condition remained clear and precise. There would and could net be reconsideration until they saw everywhere among the leaders of Indian thought evidence of a desire to co-operate in making the best of the existing Constitution. The Swarajist party had unhappily 80 far thrown its powerful weight into the scale. Lord Birkenhead proceeded, as forecasted, to offer full consideration to any responsible scheme advanced by Indian critics. He added regarding the Merriman report that it was on the lines of the majority report. Immediate action must be taken and many of the recommendations could be carried out by regulations. Lord Birkenhead concluded eloquently: “There is no Tost dominion’ nor will there be, until that moment, if it ever comes, when the whole British Empire with all it moans, is splintered in doom.” PRESS COMMENT. Morning Post says: “The concession wilt not placate the implacable minority, who have captured Indiu'h electoral machinery. What have experiments done either lor India or the Empire I India and Britam are to be left in doubt while .Lord Reading pursues his vacillations in India and nord Birkenhead supports them at Home. Lord Birkenhead» cajoleries of the Indian politician to cooperate or produce a Constitution of his own seem ominous. We tell the Government frankly that if there is any more tampering with Home Rule in Inbia the Government will come down over it just as the Coalition fell over Home Rule m Ireland.” The Daily Telegraph says: “The. Government’s reply to the language of menace and to tactics of political sabotage will be cordially approved.” The Doily Herald remarks that Lord Birkenhead suffered from the faults of pomposity, over-emphasis and emptiness. He was obliged to confess that Ministers, after two Cabinets, could not agree quite regarding Indian policy.—A. and N.Z. Cable. The forecast of the speech to which reference is made in the above stated; “Conferences between the GovernorGeneral of India (the Earl of Reading) and the Earl of Birkenhead (Secretary of State for India) have evolved a policy under which there will be no revision of Indian reforms before 1929. . The prement machinery will be improved to widen the scope for those wishing to prove the Indians’ capacity for a further measure of self-government while ensuring a protection policy against wreckers. In the meantime sympathetic consideration will be given to plans of the Swaraj (Home Rule Party). Full support will be promised in rooting out revolutionary tactics. It is agreed that the ‘lndianisation’ process has at present reached its limit. It is also proposed to create an economic commission to advise upon the development of India’s resources.” In July of last year a Constitutional Inquiry Committee was set up to study and report upon the Government of India Act of 1919. The reports of this committee, which consisted of eight distinguished Indian and British residents under Hie chairmanship of Sir Alexander Memman, were issued on March 9. _ Th° majority held that the new ,Constitution had not had enough trial yet, and considered that the diarchy was working reasonably well. The minority, consisting of four Indian unofficials, considered that the diarchy had failed, and recommended the introduction of unitary responsible government, a central government scheme to bo evolved at an early date. INDIANS IN THE EMPIRE. STRONG APPEAL TO DOMINIONS. (Received July 8, at 11.20 p.xn.)^ Lord Birkenhead, dealing with Indians in the Empire, asked the other parte of the Empire to' remember how profoundly this problem affected the relations between the Empire and India. He knew their difficulties and only asked that in every measure they took they should exhaust every effort to avoid such discrimination aa must deeply wound the ancient and dignified peoples of India. —Reuter.