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divided into a number of Dominions rather than to remain one State or Empire as it is at present. I have not been to India, and I only look at it from the outside. The European residents in India, and the representatives of India themselves, know very much better than 1 do what will be necessary in time to come- to enable Indians to attain the position they desire: to occupy. I was very much struck with the conclueling remarks of Lord Peel ; anel I have not forgotten that when the destinies of the British Empire were trembling in the balance there was no hesitation on the part of India to do her duty —1 will not say, "to come to its assistance." because when they were fighting for the Empire they were fighting for themselves as citizens of the. Empire. They undoubtedly did their duty in a way which was admired in every part of the Empire, and. by every one of its races. The Prime, Minister of Australia has mentioned the number of men who were sent and the amount of money contributed by the Indian Empire itself, and on that account T am quite sure the, representatives and tho patriotic British citizens, to whichever part of the Empire they belong, will be always desirous of upholding the wishes of the people of India and of assisting in the development which they so ardently desire. Ido not know whether it can be done for some time or not; probably hurrying up matters might eh) more harm than good. New Zealand stands by Previous Resolutions. So far as the: committees are concerned, when Mr. Sastri was in New Zealand he had an opportunity of meeting both branches of the Legislature and an opportunity of saying everything he chose to say to them. He said that, so far as Ne:w Zealand was concerned, he then had practically no fault to find. I hope later on that the same thing may bo said of tho residents in other parts of the Empire. I was present, of course, when the: original arrangement was made in 1918 ; I was present when it was reaffirmed in 1921 ; and by that we; desire to stand. If any improvements can be suggested with regard to what is in operation at present, I have not the slightest doubt but that the representatives of the Dominions and the other representatives of the British Empire here will consider them. Ido not know whether anything of the sort is intended at present, but I want to assure the representatives of India that so far as they are conccrneel there is no desire to ke:e;p them in the background, but to give them all the privileges that British citizens in other parts of the Empire enjoy. I should like to say that Ido not intend to interfere in the matter of Kenya. The position in South Africa stands by itself, and lam not able to judge of it. I only say that I should like to elo anything I possibly can to bring about a better understanding between the two races in South Africa —those representative: of the Europca/r race and those representative of the Indians. If we can do anything at all we shall be only too glad, to do it. STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA. Tribute to Presentation of Case for India. General Smuts : 1 desire to pay my tribute also to the earnestness, the eloquence, and the ability of the speeches that have been made here by the representatives of India. The proposal which has boon made by Sir Tej Sapru elocs not concern South Africa, and therefore I do not think it is necessary for me to detain the Conference: at any length. As, however, the subject is a very difficult one: I may perhaps be allowed to say a few words in reference to the general situation. Mr. Sastri's Mission has made Solution of Problem more difficult. The Maharajah has said, very rightly, that what this question requires is understanding— understaneling not only of the difficulties and the special position of India, but also of the difficulties and the special position of other British communities ; and 1 think a few words of mine might not be out of place here. So far as I can judge, the atmosphere has really become worse, in the last two years for a solution of this question. In South Africa undoubtedly it has become worse. That is due, partly to the visit of Mr. Sastri and his speeches in various parts of the Empire, to which I do not wish to refer with any particularity. Tho Prime Minister of Canada has said what the effect of the visit has be;en in Canada, and in South Africa it has undoubtedly emphasized the difficulties that existed before. That was one of the reasons why I thought it might not be wise for Mr. Sastri to come to South Africa. Our difficulties are great enough as they are. South African Attitude to Indian Problem in Kenya. There was another circumstance which has affected the attitude and the atmosphere, in South Afrie:a very consielerably, and that is the Kenya question. There is no doubt that in South Africa a, profound sympathy was stirred up for Kenya. Here, you have a very small British community—a handful of settlers —who find themselves pitted against the mighty Empire, of India, who find themselves against overwhelming forces, and who, although they are the most loyal community in the British Empire, consisting mostly of ex-Army men, had in the end to go to the length of almost threatening force, in order to maintain their position. The sympathy that was aroused and stirred for Kenya in South Africa has had a very serious repercussion there on the Indian question as a whole. I have no fault whatever to find with the attitude of either the Colonial Office, or the India Office here. I have, nothing but praise for the way they handled this very difficult situation, and the settlement that was come to was, I think, a wise compromise, and so far as my influence went I used it with the people of Kenya to get them to accept the settlement, as they have, accepted it. But I must say, quite frankly, that I have been very much perturbed over the attitude adopted by the Indian Government in this matter. They pressed tho case against Kenya in a way which seemed to me to exceed the limits of prudence and wisdom, and when the settlement was ultimately made language was used in regard to it which I think would certainly not help the case of loyalty either in India or anywhere else in the Empire. The whole incident, as I say, has had a very bad effect in South Africa.