BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17180, 25 October 1923, Page 1

BROTHERHOOD OF MAN.

DOES IT EXTEND TO INDIAN SUBJECTS? SMUTS TAKES UP THE STIFFEST ATTITUDE. By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.—Sydney “ Sun ” Cable. (Received October 25, 9.50 a.m.) LONDON, October 24. The Indian delegation at the Imperial Conference have been most active in seeking to make an Empire crisis out of their claims for equal recognition as citizens. They base their demands on the resolutions passed by the 1921 Conference. The Indians complain that nothing has been done to give effect to the resolutions which granted them full citizenship where they had been lawfully admitted and were residing in'the Dominions. Mr Bruce (Australia) and Mr Massey (New Zealand) have little difficulty in meeting the Indian wishes so far as their own Dominions are concerned, but they are likely enough to walk warily in the light of the difficulties confronting Canada and South Africa. The Indians are infuriated by the disabilities imposed on them in Kenya, which they regard as having been engineered by General Smuts, though Kenya is outside the South African Union. There is reason to believe that General Smuts is taking the stiffest attitude on the whole question, and is likely to resist any considerable measure granting citizen rights to the 160,000 members of the Indian race now within the Union. The Indians will ask for committees to examine the problems in each Dominion for the purpose of making effectual the 1921 resolutions in those Dominions which assented to them. They claim that they have behind them a united national sentiment embracing all creeds and classes. Just how much there is behind their claim will measure the gravity of the crisis.