INDIAN CONFERENCE WASTING NO TIME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19269, 5 January 1931, Page 3

INDIAN CONFERENCE WASTING NO TIME.

EARLY AND FAVOURABLE CONCLUSION EXPECTED. (United Press Assn.—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (Received January 5, 1 p.m.) RUGBY, January 3 The Indian Conference yesterday reached an important stage of its discussions, and progress in the last few days has been such as to give hope of an early and favourable conclusion of its proceedings. A good number of the Indian delegates have arranged to return home towards the end of January. A leading article in “The Times” reviews the progress made, and refers particularly to the impression existing in some quarters that the conference is procrastinating or failing. “The Times” states that the delegates themselves are not dissatisfied nor despondent, and informed outsiders can only be amazed by what in fact has been achieved. “Never before in all history.” it says, “was a conference faced with problems so colossal, complicated and independent: The question of Burma is practically decided and the problem of the North-West Frontier Province has passed through the sub-committee with the minimum of reservations. Reports exist on the future of the franchise and on provincial constitutions.” “The Times” believes that Hindu* Moslem tension, strained almost be-% vond endurance by partisan propaganda from India, now shows signs of yielding to generous statesmanship, and adds: “Let it never be forgotten that the business of the conference is | not to produce a draft constitution in detail but to set before Parliament problems in outline to the largest possible area of common ground. Many difficult problems remain: and that of the Federal structure, including the vital question of the character of the Central Executive and responsibility to the Central Legislature, will take a few more days in committee. These difficulties are very materially diminished by the new prospect cf an All-India federation being an immediate possibility. The chances of a stable Legislature are far greater than they were, and the whole trend of the round-table discussion has been to reveal a unanimous agreement on the necessity for a strong Parliament; nor does anyone seriously challenge the case for what are commonly called reservations and safeguards.” The article points out that the whole theory of the Round-Table Conference was that it was the common meeting ground of fellow workers on equal terms., and claims for the conference the valuable result of having brought all its members down from the clouds. The habit of working together has grown and there is a loss of that suspicion which Lord Sankey has deprecated as an impossible foundation for future peace. It concludes that the conference may fairly claim it has neither wasted time nor avoided crucial issues.