BRITISH POLICY IN INDIA DECIDED AT CONFERENCE

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19267, 2 January 1931, Page 7

BRITISH POLICY IN INDIA DECIDED AT CONFERENCE

(United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) LONDON, December 31. A momentous meeting of Conservative, Liberal and Labour members of the British delegation to the Round Table Conference was held at Downing Street last evening as a sequel to a week-end conference at Chequers. At the Chequers conference, there were present Mr MacDonald, the Secretary for India (Captain Wedgwood Benn), officials of the India Office and experts from the Conference. It is believed that important decisions were reached, and that these will form the broad lines of the Government’s policy. Mr MacDonald outlined to the Conference the views formed by the Government after consultation with its expert advisers. ’ The special correspondent of the “Daily Herald” says that the principle of responsible self-government is already virtually agreed to, but it is not stated by whom. It is understood that the Indian delegates are prepared to accept a limited period of reversion to Vice-Regal control of defence, foreign relations and the maintenance of Aden and the Persian Gulf protectorates. A more difficult question is the measure of financial control for the purpose of safeguarding the interests of British officials, ex-otficials and British creditors of the Government of India.