Masterly Survey

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 995, 11 June 1930, Page 9

Masterly Survey

INDIA PROBLEM SUMMED UP Commissioners Unanimous REPORT WELL RECEIVED IN BRITAIN SATISFACTION is expressed throughout England at the masterly survey of India’s problems which was undertaken by tlie Indian Statutory Commission and published in the first part of the Simon report yesterday. “A foursquare basis for a great act of progress and understanding,” is the description applied by a London newspaper to the report.

British Official 'Wireless Reed. 10.55 a.m. RUGBY, Tuesday. Sir John Simon, chairman of the Indian Statutory Commission, when interviewed today, emphasised the importance of the fact that the seven members of the commission were unanimous in the drafting of the first part of the report of the commission just published. Sir John Simon expressed satisfaction at the prominence given in the Press to this part of the report. He considered the plan of producing the report in two parts with an interval between had thereby been justified. It was evident, he said, that the conditions of the Indian problem would be fully studied in this country and the British public -would thus be able to form conclusions regarding the recommendations which are to be put forward a fortnight henceMn the second part of the report. Another personage in close touch with the commission said the full significance of the unanimity of the first section of the report had yet to be realised. The fact that the commission, which was drawn from all parties, had reached a common conclusion, was likely to exercise a tremendous effect on the future treatment of the Indian situation. A NEW IMPERIALISM The newspapers understand the second section of the report will also be unanimous. Commenting on part I. of the report the Liberal paper the “Star” says it is one of the greatest achievements in the art of governing that the world has seen. “This remarkable document will stand for all time, as a tribute to the mind and soul of a nation that has interpreted Imperialism in a new light,” it says. “What use we shall make of it, or Indian opinion will allow us to make of it, remains to be seen, but the foursquare basis is there for a great act of progress and understanding.” The “Star” adds that while the facts enumerated define the difficulties ahead in carrying out the British pledge of gradual development of selfgoverning . institutions in India, they do not weaken the pledge. They only suggest that a call is made on every good quality India possesses to rise to a crisis of vital import to the world. LESSONS OF THE INQUIRY Commenting upon the report the “Daily Telegraph” describes it ,as a masterly survey, impressive in the perfect sincerity of its appeal to reasonableness and friendliness. It is sufficient to demonstrate a dozen times over the totally impracticable character of ail the demands for the solution of the constitutional problem on the lines of complete selfgovernment at short notice. The “Morning Post” says: The survey is so carefully balanced and so judiciously vague that it is difficult to see where it leads, but if any conclusion sticks out of its pages it is that

the. Montagu-Chelmsford experiment has failed. India has been found so different from Britain and from the self-gov-erning Dominions, so diverse in herself, that the authors of the report evidently shrink from the application of similar forms of government. SELF-GOVERNMENT GOAL

“The Times” says it is impossible to exaggerate the importance of maintaining the morale of the public services and the personal touch with traditional India between the rulers and the ruled. In other words, the circumstances of the case rule out a direct election to a national Parliament and the great Indian provinces require more, not less, responsibility for their own affairs if the idea of a self-governing India is to be translated into reality. The “Daily Herald” says the transition to responsible government in India must be carried out as quickly as may be, or the system of government will break down or be destroyed by its own contradictions. SPREADERS OF SEDITION MURDERS CONTINUE OFFICER GAOLED FOR KILLING Reed. 10.40 a.m. DELHI, Tuesday. Lance-Corporal Cumming, who was charged with causing the death of two children aud the serious injury of their -mother as the result of carelessness while cleaning a rifle, was sentenced to 18 months’ imprisonment. The revolutionary activities of the Indian National Congress workers among simple villagers in Western Bengal were responsible for the agitation which led to the murder of a police officer near Daspur yesterday. The agitators, who were imported from Calcutta, spread atrocious falsehoods among the peasants. They asserted that the Government had been overthrown by the Congress, and that the payment of taxes had been abolished. They are admirably organised, having a secret postal service of couriers travelling between the villages and large centres of population in Bengal. CAPTURE IN JUNGLE The villagers were induced by tile agitators to kill the Inspector of Police. The other missing officer is believed to be a captive in the jungle aud his fate is uncertain. Armed policemen from Calcutta raided the agitators’ camp at Bandar, near Midnapore, and arrested 30 of them. A detachment of Eastern Frontier Rifles is patrolling the area. As a result of a police force firing to disperse crowds at Thottopalayad, near Vellore, Madras, when Hindus and Moslems clashed during a Moslem festival, two people were killed and six were injured.