BRITAIN AND THE EAST

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 314, 11 July 1930, Page 8

BRITAIN AND THE EAST

THE FUTURE OF INDIA FORTHCOMING CONFERENCE STATEMENT IN COMMONS (By Telegraph—Preae Association— Copyright) [British Official Wireless). RUGBY, July 9. The Secretary of State for India (Mr Wedgwood Benn), in the House of Commons to-day, referred all members who desired to ask questions regarding the forthcoming round table conference on Indian affairs to a statement made todav by Lord Irwin on behalf of his Majesty’ s Government to the Indian Legislature in Simla, copies of which were circulated in the House. In the course of this important statement, the Viceroy dealt with the campaign of civil disobedience which has now been in progress for three months. He described it as a deliberate attempt to coerce established authority by mass action which must be regarded as unconstitutional and dangerously subversive. “After all,” said Lord Irwin, “is it not a very dangerous doctrine to preach to the citizens of India that it is patriotic and laudable to refuse to obey the laws or to pay taxes? Human nature is often reluctant, to do either, and, if there is anything certain, it is that if society is once thoroughly inoculated with these noxious microbes, the disease will perpetually recur, until one day it paralyses the Indian Government of the future, which by these methods it is sought to bring into existence. It may not be long before Indian Ministers are responsible for the assessment and collection of land revenue or other taxes. They would have little cause to thank those who had allowed the impression to gain ground that the withholding of payments legally due was the proper method of voicing general political dissatisfaction with, an established Ministry. Therefore, it is that I have felt bound to combat these doctrines and to arm the Government with such powers as seem required to deal with the situation.” Round-Table Conference Regarding the round table conference, the Viceroy said: “'His Majesty’s Government have reached the conclusion that it would not be right to prescribe for the conference any terms more limited than were implied in my statement of November 1 last and that the conference should enjoy the full freedom that those words connote. The conference accordingly will be greatly assisted indeed, but with liberty unimpaired by the report of the Statutory Commission or by any other documents which will be before it. It is the belief of his Majesty’s Government that by way of the conference it should be possible to reach a solution that both countries and all parties and interests in them can honourably accept and any such agreement at which the conference is able to arrive will form the basis of proposals which his Majesty's Government will later submit, to Parliament. From such definition of the scope of the Conference it is clear that His Majesty’s Government conceive of, it is not as a mere meeting for discussion and debate, but as a joint assembly of representatives of both countries, on whose agreement precise proposals to Parliament may be founded. The Conference will thus enjoy unfettered the right of examining the whole problem in all its bearings, with the knowledge that its labours arc of no academic kind. His Majesty’s Government will hope that Indians of all schools of thought, whatever the attitude that some have hitherto taken, will be ready to share this constructive work. I see no reason why from a frank discussion on all sides a scheme might not emerge for submission to Parliament which would confound the pessimism of those who tell us that it is impossible for Britain and or for various interests in India to reach an agreement.” Growing National Feeling

Earher in his review of the Indian situation Lord Irwin recalled that when

clear that his principal duty was to devote all his energies to the maintenance of a progressive orderly and contended India within the orbit of the British Commonwealth. It was also evident that looking ahead it was hardly to be expected that India, rightly sensitive of her self respect and growing every year more conscious of national feeling should of her own free will desire to remain a partner in a political society such as the British Empire, upon terms which implied a permanent inferiority of status. It was for this reason and with the object of removing avoidable misunderstanding on this vital matter that His Majesty’s Government last year authorised him to declare that in their view the attainment of Dominion status was the natural completion of India’s constitutional growth. That declaration was made and stood. Th e Government simultaneously announced their intention to convene a conlerence as widely representative in character as possible, in order that after the submission of the Statutory Commission’s report, the spokesman of Great Britain and India might take free counsel together upon measures which the Government would later present to Parliament. That report has now been published and he did not think that an impartial reader whatever may be his opin ion upon the actual recommendations made, would deny that the Commission has mad e a weighty and constructive contribution to the most difficult problem. Great as for its intrinsic value must be the authority of the report, it was neither the desire nor the function of the Commission to antdeipace the decisions of the Government reached after conference with representatives from India or of Parliament itself. Fair and Honest Report Their task was described by Sir John Simon in the following words; “No oijc should regard the Statutory Commission or its colleagues as though we were settling and deciding the constitution of British India. Our task is very important but it is not all- Our task is that of making a fair, honest, and sympathetic report to the Imperial Parliament. "When we have made our report then it would be India’s opportunity to make her full contribution which is right and necessary to her future constitution which would be framed by Britain and India together.” Lord Irwin added that the duty of expressing an opinion now passed to the Government of nldia. Before reaching conclusions he hoped to discuss the whole subject with some of those who spoke for non-official India. He would see some of the ruling princes and representatives of different views and interests from British India to meet him later.

The Viceroy concluded by stating that two roads to-day lay open before India—one leading to turmoil, disunity, disappointment and shattered hopes, and the other guiding those who follow it to the India of their dreams, a proud partner in the full Commonwealth of Nationals, lending and gaining strength. India to-day had to make her choice and he prayed that sh e might choose aright.