INDIA’S STATUS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17188, 3 November 1923, Page 8

INDIA’S STATUS.

DR SAPRU’S CLAIM. CONFERENCE DISCUSSION. By Tclesraph—Press Association—Co^yr iffht Reuter’s Teleprame. LONDON, November I. The text, of the speeches at the Imperial Conference, on the status of Indians in the Empire has been issued. Viscount Peel, Secretary of State for India, emphasised the fact that a solution of the problem was essential for preservation of the unity of the Empire. Opinion in India was quite unanimous regarding the matter, because Indians regarded the disability under which their countrymen laboured elsewhere in the world as a brand of social inferiority. Viscount Peel recalled the fact that India contributed 1,400,000 men and over £200,000,000 for war purposes. India was sitting at the Imperial Conference on equal terms with the dominions, and was accepted by the League of Nations as one of the eight greatest industrial states in the world. It was the intention and ambition of Indians to share in the glories of the British Empire. It the opinion of India were disregarded how could India be expected to co-operate wholeheartedly in the great work of consolidating the Empire? The scope "of the problem, apart from South Africa, was not very great. There were only 2000 Indians in Australia, 000 in New Zealand and 1200 in British Columbia. Viscount Peel re-affirmed what was stated at the conference of 1921 with regard to India's complete acceptance of the dominions’ right to determine the composition of their own communities. He urged the dominions to consider the matter generously. Justice and expediency combined in an appeal which surely was irresistible. The time had come when these disabilities should be specificall}' removed. Dr Sapru said that he was fighting in the cause of his country. As a subject of the King he was fighting for a place in the King’s household, not for a place in his stables. Indian allegiance to the Throne was a real, living thing, and, if that allegiance were shaken, the foundation of the Empire fabric would also be shaken, with consequences difficult to over-esti-mate. The one function, of the Imperial Conference was to bring about a good understanding between the units of Empire, strengthen its ties and unite them. If the Conference faile.d to achieve that, then it failed to justify its existence. India, and the Indian Government, had received the Kenya decision with the utmost dismay, the added, lie felt that a serious blunder had been made. The Indian Government would not accept the decision as final. There were about 1,500,000 Indians settled elsewhere in the Empire, subjected in many places to grave political and economic disabilities. lie paid a tribute to the Government of New Zealand for treating Indians on a footing of equality, so that Indians could live there as fellow citizens, and, in honour, lie appealed to Mr Bruce to cooperate in a method for removing the disabilities suffered by Indians in Australia. Dr Sapru admitted that his most difficult task was South Africa, where 101,000 Indians suffered severe economic handicaps. Regarding the mandated territories, lie declared that Indians could not acquiesce in any position making their status inferior to what it was when the Germans administered the territories. There was a growing tendency in Iridia against emigration. They did not want the nation, outside of India, to appear as a nation of coolies. There was plenty of scope for Indians in India. . Therefore, dominions need . have no fear in that connection. India was absolutely unable’to acquiesce in the present position .and he earnestly appealed to the dofninions to join in devising methods to give effect to the principles embodied in the resolution. Dr Sapru outlined his proposal that the dominion, and British Governments should appoint a committee to confer with the comniitteo appointed by the Indian Government, along the line ol the formula agreed to by the Duke of Devonshire, and already cabled. He explained that lie wanted a committee appointed by each dominion to confei with India’s committee. This wouU give time for angry passion in India t( calm and enable all concerned to con sider a solution of the problem, anc absolutely safeguard tbe independence of the dominions. He pp° r i appealec to Genei'al Smuts to help to raise th< status of Indians in South Africa. I the problem there were allowed t< fester much longer, it would become t question of foreign policy of such grav ity that the unity of the Empire migh founder irretrievably thereon.