INDIAN CONFERENCE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 439, 3 December 1930, Page 8

INDIAN CONFERENCE

SEPARATION OF BURMA VIEWS OF THE DELEGATES [ British Official Wireless, j RUGBY, Dec. 1. ■ The sub-committees appointed to consider the first and second heads of subjects met this morning. It is understood that for the present the informal discussion for the adjustment of Hindu and Moslem views and relations, which has been proceeding for the past three weeks, has been discontinued. It is stated that the conversations resulted in little real progress in the matter of communal representations. In informing the Hindu negotiators that they proposed a discontinuance >f <he discussion on the question of separate electorates the Moslem delegates, it is stated, have expressed their willingness to discuss other outstanding questions. The Round Table Conference to-day decided that a special committee be set up to consider the nature of the conditions which would enable Burma to be separated frdm India on equitable terms and to recommend the best way for securing this end. Burman Viewpoint This important decision was reached after the Burman viewpoint had been placed before the conference by U Ba Pe. He said that tho wishes of the people of Burma were that their country be separated from India. They felt that as part of India their national status was liable to disappear. They desired the fullest measure of self-gov-ernment and an equal footing with the other self-governing Dominions, under the same Crown. They desired reasonable financial adjustments as between India and Burma and a trade convention between the two countires. He considered that Burma and India would be best to have another conference in London, to which would be invited representatives of the various parties and interests in Burma, some 15 to 20 in all, who would sit here as the present conference sat, with representatives of the British Government.

During the discussion Dr. Chintamani (British Indian delegate) expressed the view that the wil] of the people of Burma should be the determining factor, hut he di-’ not think that there was a unanimous desire for separation from India. The position of Indians in Burma would require careful consideration.

Lord Reading said that there seemed to be a consensus of opinion favouring the separation of Burma from India. There were many questions sucn as finance, defence and authorities which could be settled only by a special body set up for the purpose. The Maharajah of Alwar expressed full sympathy with Burma’s request for separation, and Lord Peel said that when recently in Burma he found a strong and widespread desire for separation from the Indian Empire. Need for Committee The Prime Minister, as chairman, interpreted the desire of the conference as for a committee which should not attempt to draft a constitution for a new Burma but should take note of certain conditions which had to be met in the process of separation. It should further recommend how the process could best be carried out, whether by committee, commission, or anything else. He then proposed the terms of reference in which there was the genera] assent.

The conference, in committee, continued the examination of the heads of subjects. The four heads, namely, the component elements of federation, the type of federal legislature and the number of chambers constituting it, the powers of the Federal Legislature and the construction, character, powers and responsibilities of the Feceral executive—were referred to the Federal Structure Sub-Committee. The powers of the provincial legislatures and the constitution, character, powers and responsibilities of provincial executives were referred to the Second Committee.

The third sub-committee was given the task of considering the provision to be made to secure the willing cooperation of minorities and special interests.

The headings dealing with the membership of the Federal Legislature and the method whereby representatives from British India and the Indian States are to be chosen were held over, since action in these matters is in a measure dependent on the work done on the questions relating to the defence forces, the Supreme Court, and its jurisdiction. and the relations of the federal and provincial executives’to the Crown also left over until the sub-committee had reported on specific subjects.