INDIAN REFORMS

Taranaki Daily News, 4 June 1934, Page 7

INDIAN REFORMS

WHITE PAPER PROPOSALS. GROWING OPPOSITION. Calcutta, May 2. There is a definite hardening of opinion against the White Paper proposals to extend reforms in India. This feeling is becoming manifest both in India and Britain, as a result .of recent declarations by the Indion National Congress regarding its programme. In well-informed- political circles it is pointed out that it would be folly for India to expect anything beyond what is contained in the White Paper. Indeed, recent developments in India raise the question whether all the White Paper contemplates will be found in final legislation. Swarajist (Home Rule) utterances have rendered the task more difficult by weakening the attitude of those in favour of a most generous measure of advance, while strengthening the conservatism of those who have always approached constitutional reform in India with marked caution. If a Bill to extend Indian reforms is to be passed it will require overwhelming support in the House of Commons in order to overcome certain opposition from a diehard section of the House of Lords.

Altogether the prospects are not too bright, entirely owing to the opposition of the Congress.