Excitement Caused

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 810, 2 November 1929, Page 11

Excitement Caused

Indian Viceroy’s Statement

Urgent Question in Commons

SIMON COMMISSION NOT CONSULTED

British Official Wireless

> 10 ' 40 am - RUGBY, Friday. pXCITEMENT was caused in the House of Commons by " Lord Irwin’s statement about the future status of India, and the Liberal Leader, Mr. Lloyd George, gave notice of an urgent question.

Today the Liberal leader asked the Secretary for India whether the Statutory Commission on Indian Government was consulted with reference to the passage in the important statement made by the Viceroy of India, which relates to constitutional status for India in the Empire; whether the Commission concurred; and whether that passage is intended to indicate any change, either in substance, or, in point of time, in the policy announced by previous Governments. Mr. Wedgwood Benn replied that the answer to the first part of the question was in the negative. It was due to the Statutory Commission that he should make it perfectly clear that it waH not consulted. The second part of the question, therefore, did not arise. As to the third part, the passage referred to was intended to set out the goal of British policy, as stated in the declaration of August, 1917.

in view of doubts which had been expressed, both in Great Britain and India, regarding the interpretation placed on the intentions of the British Government in enacting the Statute of 1919, the Viceroy had been authorised, on behalf of his Majesty’s Government, to state clearly that in its judgment it was implicit in the declaration of 1917 that the natural issue of India’s constitutional progress as there contemplated, was the attainment of Dominion status.

The ‘‘Daily Telegraph” praises the invitation to a conference and says that on the face of it no fault can be found with Lord Irwin’s statement; but it expresses a fear that the reference at this time to the estimate on British policy may serve as an irritant to the large, if misguided, body of Indian opinion which clamours for the immediate concession of Dominion status.

The ‘‘Manchester Guardian” says the. good effect of the Prime Minister’s letter will be greatly enhanced by the emphatic reiteration in Ihe Viceroy’s statement of the goal of the British policy for India. The effect has been electrical, and has gone for to unite all the political parties in India. Questions of policy, involving changes either in substance or in time, could not be considered until the Commission and the Indian Central Committee had submitted their re-

ports, and his Majesty's Government had been able, in consultation with the Government of India, to consider these matters in the light of all material then available, and after the meeting of the conference, which it was proposed to summon.

It is generally believed that » Sir John Simon disapproves of the declaration’s preceding the commission’s report. Conservative and Liberal leaders similarly disapprove of the Government’s action. Mr. George Lansbury, the First Commissioner of Works, and a member of the Cabinet, as chairman of the British Committee oil Indian Affairs, has forwarded a message to the people of India, sending love and congratulations. He says; “This is a great day in the history of India. I especially rejoice with Gandhi and Mrs. Annie Besant regarding the Governments decision for j, round-table conference, coupled with the unequivocal declaration that the policy of Britain remains the same, namely, ultimately establishing India as an equal partner in the British Commonwealth of Nations, with full Dominion status, for which the committee has fought for 14 years.” Mr. Lansbury appeals to his Indian comrades and friends to take the declaration at its face value. He adds that there is no shadow of disagreement among the highest authorities, either in Britain oi* in India, regarding India’s right to selfgovernment. NEWSPAPER COMMENT The pronouncement of Lord Irwin, in which he summarised the important modification now proposed in procedure subsequent to the report of the Statutory Commission, and reaffirmed tho determination of the British opinion that pledges shall be redeemed to the full, is the subject of comment in most of the newspapers. Attention is particularly directed to the following sentence in Lord Irwin’s statement: “I am authorised, on behalf of his Majesty’s Government, to state clearly that, in its judgment it is implicit in the declaration of 1917 that the natural issue of India’s constitu- • tional progress as there contemplated is the attainment of Dominion status.”

“The Times” says Lord Irwin has no more than repeated the various, but essentially consistent, definitions of the ultimate body of India’s constitutional progress. The “Daily Herald” says Lord Irwin’s declaration is identical with those repeatedly affirmed by India’s own political leaders. It is a declaration of tho first importance, but it is uot the announcement of a new policy. it is a reaffirmation and clearer interpretation of the policy laid down 12 years ago; but in the years that followed, there has been a tendency in some quarters to restrict the declaration. Those suspicions, today’s declaration should sweep away once and for all. Definitely and explicitly, Dominion status is declaimed to be the goal of British policy, as of Indian aspiration. There is complete unity of purpose. Can there now be co-operation in achievement? Commander the Hon. J. M. Kenworthy (Labour) referred to statements made in the Press that Mr. Stanley Baldwin, the Conservative Leader, had been consisted. Mr. Baldwin bluntly denied the truth of every “statement of fact” or implication of fact in the Press.