PROBLEMS OF INDIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 428, 20 November 1930, Page 8

PROBLEMS OF INDIA

FUTURE CONSTITUTIONS CONFERENCE DISCUSSIONS PETTY QUARRELS MUST- GO j British Ortuial Wireless. 1 RUGBY, Nov. is. The India Round Table Conference has resumed a general discussion on the question as to whether the future constitution of India should be on a Federal or unitary basis. Yesterday’s speeches on the subject indicated an agreement that a federal constitution alone offered a possible solution, and the business committee of the Conference later recommended the appointment by the Conference of a committee, when the general discussion was finished, to consider the question of Imperial relations. A resolution to this effect was prepared for submission to to-day’s session. A full summary will be issued at the plenary sitting of the Round Table Conference. The Maharajah of Al war urged that for the well-being of their national cause they must all give up their little quarrels and differences. When the opportunities came he States would put forward their points of view in greater detail, but they sought no new territories or powers, only the practical application of their treaties and alliances. The usage of the sufferance ami political practice had for divers reasons encroached upon these treaties, and ’hey desired that such extra rights outside of treaties assured without their consent might be frankly discussed and decided only by mutual coneent. Discussing federation, he said that many held the view that British India m’.uht be formed again into states. This would bring a true Swaraj as a ;i.g reality considerably nearer, and would perpetuate a link with the Crown through its representative. the Viceroy, with Hindu, Mahommedan. Sikhs, and other States so formed. It would settle its communal questions., and above all. it would maintain in strong bonds commercial and trade relations with England. It necessitated an Imperial army to safeguard the Crown's obligations and protect ports and frontiers. with an internal army of the States maintained for security and assistance in emergencies. It ensured religious liberties to every section of India's population, and it carried on the traditions of India’s rule according to her history of hundreds of centuries and finally coming to federation, or what be preferred to call the United .States of India. It immediately simplified the problem of the rulers uniting in a iinon body to work out the problenr. India. Here was the shortest and quickest way to Dominion status. The Maharajah expressed the view that India should achieve her position on a footing of equality with her sister Dominions within the Empire and arrive at a situation of fully blossomed Dominion status as soon as possible. His reason in saying so was so large that the Empire might iin«l a grateful India co-operating wholeheartedly in making an Empire to which they belong something even greater. A united India would be the finest jewel anil the strongest force in the cause of Empire. India had helped England during the war crisis wholeheartedly without bargaining. It was now England’s turn to help India to reach a position beyond which they had no desire to go. namely, that of a sister Dominion within the Empire. Des.re of Mussulmans. Sir Muhammad Sahli said that . 1.dUO.OW Mussulmans desired that in the constitutional and administrative evolution of India they have their legitimate share of both the provincial and central Government. The federal system alone would suit the circumstances of the case. The position of the Moslem group was that they desire! India to attain Dominion status as an equal partner in the British Uomnionwealth. He added that but for Lord Irwin’s wisdom and sympathy the position in India would be ten times worse. The Maharajah of Rewa, representing the Conservative element among the Indian States, said a nation was being brought to birth. He felt certain that not only among the millions who ill the soil, but among all sober-minded Politicians and statesmen there must be * large measure of support for and lyiupathfe with those who counsel a cauious atfvance and preach the dangers of precipitating. There wore some aspects of the Indian problem in regard to which many Conservative principles would unfortunately, though not blindly. resist all change. They will resist any sign of faltering in loyalty to the Crown, any attempt to severe India’s destinies from the British Empire. To this extent, however, he believed every member ar this Conference was Conservative. One of the most difficult aspects of the problem was the security of the interests to be reconciled, and a large measure of mutual confidence was necessary. The Indian States wished to safeguard their industrial interests. They asked for guarantees that the changes would leave them free to pursue their own ideals in the manner of their heritage and tradition, and that their position would not be modified without their own consent. They did not desire federation if it involved the gradual disappearance of all that the States had stood for in the past. The British Viewpoint. Lord Peel, the first British delegate to speak, said that whatever might be the consitutionai issues they felt most deeply the contributions that India has made to the Empire and gratitude for the great devotion with which the Indian Princes and people threw themselves into their great contribution to the war. Quoting the Viceroy's statement to the Legislative Assembly last January. Lord Peel said: “Some political circles in India had misinterpreted them in regarding the statement of the goal as the same thing as a statement of their immediate purpose. T here was no promise in that statement of the immediate translation into fact of a full measure of Dominion status. It was pointed out as the goal which might be attained in a swifter way or in shorter time, if things went well with the political development of India, and. therefore., while they were united on the goal they might differ as to the place in which it might be attaiued. When talking of the British position in India let them remember they had been there now a long time. Do not talk of them in alarm, but as those who had contributed greatly to the constitution and growth—moral and material—of India, as those who ha\p won a place in India of consideration or of partnership on

account of previous services. Lord Peel described the statutory commission’s report as a great contribution to the Indian problem, and as a revolutionary document. As an indication he recalled it swept away the diarchy, and the councilsju the provinces were furnishci with exceedingly wide powers over the great populations in those provinces. Really they were not provinces, but countries with twenty or forty millions of people. Lord Peel asked was it nothing that those wide powers were to be fully transferred to Indian Ministers, whose laws and whose administrative acts would touch most closely the intimate lives of those millions of people in the different provinces in education, in local government, in wealth, agriculture, and even in taxation? In those circumstances was there really anything inherently unreasonable in proposing that while provinces were adjusting themselves to these new conditions, settling down, learning their new powers and applying the arts of Government to these great populations, that during that time—not a long time perhaps—there should be no substantial change in the central Government? Lord Peel said the transfer of the police was viewed with great anxiety in many quarters, not only here, but by some Governments in India. While they all hoped that with the agreement all the old difficulties ami connnunial troubles would disappear, yet the impartiality of the British police was an advantage. They felt this not from any desire to delay in India the realisation of her aspirations, but because Parliament did feel tremendous responsibility towards India. Dealing with the main subject of the discussion, he said be inclined most strongly to that federal idea which builds up units of great variety with the whole and contributes to the whole something of their richness and variety. Inasmuch as the report the Government of India contemplated setting up such scheme as a remote possibility. it seemed somewhat out of date. Lord Peel affirmed his strung belief, shared by English Conservative opinion. in the importance of bringing India sooner or later into an equal part in the great community of the British Commonwealth. The contribution which India could bring in thought, in knowledge, material, and spiritual, would enormously enrich the content of what may be in the future a community of British nations. The Smaller States. The Chief uf sangli called attention to rhe interests of the smaller Blates, and said their cases would require investigation to lit them in the scheme which might be ultimately framed so that they might enjoy all its benefits. Sir Hubert- Carr, of the British-In-dian delegation, expressed belief that a Federal Government offered.the best chances of successful progress to a United India. They believed in the full application of the Federal principle, not only in bringing the States and Provinces together at the centre, but also in its application to other department.'., Government finance, railways, and so on, but. his community was largely actuated by anxiety that the present order should not give way to immature ideas, which would lead to a breakdown. He would like to see a further consolidation of thought in Indian political opinion as to what was host before any strong move was made for they were frankly doubtful if responsibility was possible .it present. In regard to finance, he emphasised that any Government that was going to be for good India must retain not only the confidence of its own nationals, but also international confidence.

Colonel Gidney, as an Indian, speak ing for the Anglo-Indian community, said his conception of practical measure that would be given India immediately was complete provincial autonomy, and when the Provinces established themselves allow them absolute freedom to federate with those States willing to enter into association with them, and

so form a number of federating units, which could eventually combine in an All-Indian Federation with a strong, responsible and representative Central Government. He asked for the adequate ami statutory protection of minority interests and urged that his community be given something in the nature of a bill of rights so that they should nut lose their positions merely because they were party Indian and Partly European.

The Indian States delegation and the British-Indian delegation held meetings

to-day to choose their representatives on the Federal Relations Committee. This will consist of 32 members, six representing the British delegatiou, 10 Indian States, and 16 British-Indian, with Mr Wedgewood Benn presiding. At to-day’s British-Indian meeting, over which the Aga Khan presided, a discussion took place on the relative merits of unitary and federal constitutions, and various viewpoints expressed.