73

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are not on an equality with the rest of us, because they are not really here in a representative capacity ; they are not really sent by an independent Indian Government, and they cannot really be regarded as equal with the rest of us. If I were an Indian, putting myself in their position, I would recognize that this hypersensitiveness about their treatment outside of India arises really from the fact that they have not, so far, reached the degree of self-government that the rest of us have reached. With regard to Indians in the protectorates and so on, the Government which is primarily responsible for those, places being the Government which is also responsible for India, it seems to us unjust that there should be any distinction drawn between Indians and other British subjects in those places. Progress towards Self-Government only Solution, At the same time it seems to me that the only solution of this trouble, which comes from racial sensitiveness, is for Indians to be in a position to make real reciprocal arrangements and to make bargain for bargain. The only way that this Indian trouble is really going to be solved is for that progress towards self-government —whatever form of self-government they consider suitable for themselves —to bo hastened with all speed so as to avoid what Sir Tej and the Maharajah indicated- - revolutionary methods taking the place of evolutionary methods. We in our country must necessarily sympathize whole-heartedly with the Indians both in their protests against their inferior race treatment and in their feelings as to the freedom of their country. We also recognize quite plainly here that we have no right to dictate to the other Dominions as to what they do in their own areas. That is all I have to say, Prime Minister. STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER OF NEWFOUNDLAND. Tribute to Presentation of Case for India. Mr. Wa.rren : I must add my congratulations ter the: Indian delegation upon the eloquence and force of the: speeches they have made. No Disabilities in Newfoundland. As far as Newfoundland is concerned, we have no distinction whatever. As long as an Indian is a British subject he can vote in. Newfoundland in the same way as an Australian, Canadian, or NewZealander, or anybody else:. We; leave no restriction on. immigration ; and I may say that, if an Indian is not a British subject, the. mere fact that he is an Indian is no bar to his becoming naturalized and obtaining the vote in that way in Newfoundland. Ido not want to express any opinion upon the internal affairs of any other sister Dominion. STATEMENT BY SIR TEJ BAHADUR SAPRU. Appreciation of Reception of Proposals. Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru : Prime Minister, I must tell you, and through you your colleagues in His Majesty's Government, and the Dominion Prime Ministers, that I could not have hoped to have had a better hearing here. Therefore my thanks are due to one and all of you, even though it may not be that I see eye to eye with you in some of your remarks. Comments on Statement of Secretary of State for the Colonies. 1 will first of all refer to the speech delivered this morning by His Grace the Duke of Devonshire. I listened with deep interest ter his speech, and let me express to him my thanks for the manner in which he has expressed sympathy with our general aspirations in this matter. His Grace was good enough to say that he did not want to mislead India in regard to Kenya, and therefore he spoke frankly. I hope His Grace will pardon me if I also desire to be equally frank in giving expression to our position. T did not expect at any moment during the last few days that I have been working over this question that I would go back with the Kenya decision reversed. That was not what I was aiming at; but I want to make it abundantly plain that Ido not wish the substance of my proposition to be, affecteel. The language' of the resolution is a matter for settlement; but it is of the very essence of that resolution that Kenya must come in. Secondly, I want to explain that, while His Grace has said that His Majesty's Government are not prepared to accept the resolution in regard to Kenya, my country will refuse to accept that decision as final. Thirdly, I will make it plain that the committee I have proposed should, in conferring with the Colonial Office, have the widest scope— that is ter say, it must discuss not only questions affecting other colonies, but also those relating to Kenya : otherwise I do not see that you can possibly satisfy my countrymen. That is all I wanted to say with regare! to tho committee and its dealings with the Colonial Office here. Well, I will now pass on from the Duke of Devonshire and the Colonial Office to the Dominion Ministers. Comments on Statement of Prime Minister of Canada. I have listened with very great interest to the speech of Mr. Mackenzie King, and must thank him heartily for supporting me, and accepting the substance of my proposal. Interpretation of Resolution of 1921 Conference. There are, just one err two weirds with regard to his speech that I would like, to say. He referred to his view—or, rather, the construction put in his Parliament—on the resolution of 1921, and he read out a passage from Mr. Meighen's speech. Now, let me tell him that we are here sitting not as lawyers, nor are we sitting in a Court of law ; our functions are quite different. I suppose that wo would claim that the functions of a statesman are very much higher than those of a lawyer, although I myself happen to be associated with that noble profession. Now, that resolution of 1921, I believe, was not drafted, by a conveyancing lawyer; it was probably drafted by some one of the statesmen around

10—A. 6.