INDIAN REFORM BILL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 68, 22 March 1935, Page 7

INDIAN REFORM BILL

THE PRINCES’ ATTITUDE. DIFFICULTIES EXPLAINED. [ British Official Wireless. ] RUGBY, March 20. The attitude of the Indian Princes towards the Government of India Bill was discussed in the House of Commons in the light of the White Paper published on Tuesday last, in which the criticisms of the Princes and the Secretary for India’s comments thereon were set out. Formidable as those criticisms might look at first sight, said Sir Samuel Hoare, they were, he believed, adjustable, and in support of this he cited the opinion expressed in correspondence by the Princes themselves, that “it is still not beyond the sphere of statesmanship to adjust our differences in such a manner as would lead to a satisfactory and desired result.” The documents reproduced in the White Paper showed that there wore abo.it 30 points upon which the Princes felt doubt. About one-third wore due simply to misunderstanding. Of the other twothirds, the great majority were points where the drafting could be read juste 1 without any sacrifice of any substantial principle in the Bill. All except two points ought to be capable of comparatively easy adjustment. H had always admitted that accession of the Princes into the Federation was difficult and. complicated. His advisers, however, Lad ben in close consultation with the legal advisers of the Indian States. The latter, of course, could not bind Princes in any way, but the views of both parties had been discussed in detail, and the discussions had not revealed any differences which appeared to be incapable of adjustment. Regarding misunderstandings on the question of paramountcy, it was not the case that Ithe Bill could not be pro-

ceeded with until the Princes’ claims on this subject had been settled. The Princes were not being asked there and now to accede. Parliament was passing the best Bill it could, and was taking into account as fully as possible all of the various interests, British and Indian. those of the Indian States and those of Britain and the Empire. The Princes always claimed that they could give no final answer as to their accession until the Bill was on the Statute Book. If they acceded, there would be feedration; if not, there would be no federation. So far from worsening the Princes’ position in regard to paramountcy, however, the Bill would make it better, but that question was one that must be dealt with in the normal way in India. It affected all of the Princes, whether they federated or not, and whether the Bill passed or not. But if British India was ever to achieve its full status in the British Empire, an all-in di a Federation was essential to an Indian India, with the Princes for all time having that share in the Government of the continent to which they were entitled. He believed that the differences at issue could be honourably adjusted in full harmony with interests on both sides.