INDIA’S CONSTITUTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21600, 22 March 1932, Page 9

INDIA’S CONSTITUTION

CLAIMS OF MINORITIES NO SETTLEMENT REACHED (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) CALCUTTA, March 20. The process of framing India’s now constitution has been delayed once again by the failure of the Round Table Conference Consultative Committee to arrive at a settlement regarding the claims by the Moslems and other minority communities for adequate safeguards and representation in future legislatures. The British Government will now be asked to settle the question. The Viceroy reiterated that in the event of failure to reach a settlement acceptable to all parties the Government would be compelled to apply the provisional constitutional scheme.

AN OFFICIAL COMMUNIQUE. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 20. (Received March 21, at 5.5 p.m.) A communique issued by the India Office gives the text of a statement published in Delhi, which says that his Majesty’s Government has taken a note of the inability of the Consultative Committee of the Round Table Conference to undertake a settlement of the communal problem, which was reported to them by the chairman, and of the committee’s request that a decision should be given by his Majesty’s Government. In these circumstances the Government thinks it would be well to reiterate the pledge which the Prime Minister gave, that in the event of the failure of communities to present a settlement acceptable to all parties as foundations upon which to build, the Government was determined that even this disability should not be permitted to be a bar to progress, and that it would be compelled to apply a provisional scheme. “ His Majesty’s Government desires to make it plain that it realises the responsibilities involved 'in this undertaking and it will not fail to discharge them without delay.”