INDIAN PROBLEMS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIII, Issue 24, 24 December 1932, Page 2

INDIAN PROBLEMS

3.45 P.M. EDITION

ROUND TABLE CONFERENCE. STATEMENT ~BY DELEGATE. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.)’ Received December 24, 2.5 p.m. LONDON, Dec. 23. Sir Tej Bafidur Sapru, a delegate to the Round Tabic Conference, told the Indian conciliation group as he left the conference in tiie evening at a critical point, “We have been appealing to the British statesmen to come to a settlement on tlie most vital issues, otherwise the Constitution on which wo have worked for three years could not be completed. It is at present far from comiilete regarding reresponsibility at the centre and in the provinces, which must be simultaneous. There is no question of the gap extending for months, much less for years. The Indian delegates would not agree to postponement of the federation until all the provinces, including the native States, agreed to enter or until a Reserve Bank was established. The Indians agreed to safeguard pensions and British and foreign investors, and also to certain reservations, including control of the army by the GovernorGeneral during transition, but insisted that the Legislature’s nominee bold the army portfolio with a mandate to Indianise the army as quickly as possible. “I anticipate an agreement, but it may not be an agreement on all points. The Indians will not sign anything ambiguous.” He added: “I disagree with the. British Government’s statement regarding the condition of India where the dissatisfaction, discontent and bitterness in nearly every Indian borne are greater than at any time in my experience.” .... , The Congress has aroused political sentiment everywhere. Gandhi and other politicals ought to be released, otherwise it will be impossible to pacify Indian opinion and ensure the Constitution a chance of working. He urged British statesmen pi the House of Commons to trust to the goodwill of the Indian people.