POLICY IN INDIA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 449, 15 December 1930, Page 7

POLICY IN INDIA

MR CHUBCHILL’S SPEECH MR MACDONALD’S REPLY Received l4, 5.15 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 12. Mr MacDonald, speaking at Reading, said that Mr Churchill’s speech on India was mischievous throughout and lacked iny constitutional proposal. It merely expressed the antiquated relationship of an imperial authority. “Mr Churchill gave those desiring the failure of the conference the opportunity to raise Indian prejudice against the British,” said Mr MacDonald, “but I have got such a hold of Indian opinion that we can afford to let Mr Chur'hill make his speech, though if he takes my advice he will not repeat it.”

CONFERENCE OPINIONS,

“IMPERTINENT AND INSULTING’’ Received Dec. 14, 7.10 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 13. Impertinent and insulting, is how many Indian round-table-conference members described Mr Churchill’s cat’s meat comparison. They declare that the whole speech is indiscreet, especially coming from an ex-Chancellor, and hope it does not express the Conservative Party’s view, otherwise if the Conservatives arc in power when the India Bill comes into Parliament its fate would be scaled. Indeed, there would be little use continuing the conference. The speech has depressed the Nationalists, but several representatives regard it as reassuring, especially the references to the necessity of safeguarding minorities, whercanent the Sikhs, European residents, and AngloIndians are most nervous, fearing that the Moslems will abandon the demand for communal electorates. Europeans and Anglo-Indians are both determined to insist on the fulfilment of separate electorates.