examined by the Government of India, by himself and by the Commission whenever that body may be assembled. The time which may elapse before reexamination of the Constitution, whenever that may happen, could not be better occupied by public men in India than by devoting serious practical thought to these problems. The British people, working on their own experience, have set up institutions in India based on Western models. The aspirations of Indian politicians, as I understand them, are directed towards the establishment of responsible self-government within the Empire as the ultimate goal. Responsible self-government based on Parliamentary institutions is the product of Western thought and experience. It is often contended that we are seeking to arrive at the final destination by imposing ideas on India which are alien to its genius. We are not wedded to our own particular methods of attaining our object. Whatever may be proposed will be the subject of most careful examination by the Government of India, and eventually by the Commission before it is submitted to the British Parliament. The Commission should know whether there is any general consensus of opinion among the various classes and communities of India as to the direction in which the development of self-government within the Empire should be sought. Should we persevere in our proposed course or is there an alternative line of advance which would be more in accordance with Indian ideas and would receive the support of the numerous interests concerned? If any alternative methods are to be suggested, much hard thinking is required. Constitutional problems are not solved by a phrase. Account must be taken of unparalleled complexities-diversities of race, diversities of religion, striking diversities of intellectual development and a social organisation which separates classes with a rigidity unknown in any other great country. It must be kept steadily in mind that it is a primary duty of Government to provide security against external aggression and to preserve peace and order within its territories, and in India it is imperative that adequate means should be devised for the protection of Minorities. No greater problem in self-government has ever been set before a people. No problem has ever more assuredly required accurate and practical thinking.

There are many in India at the present moment who hold the solution lies in Provincial autonomy. The principle that local affairs should be administered by Local Governments is one that commands general acceptance. But if we are to avoid disintegration-a danger that the history of India constantly emphasises there must, in my judgment, be a strong Central Government capable of exercising a legitimate degree of supervision and control. The relations of such a Government to a number of so-called autonomous Provincial Governments have not yet been thought out. It can scarcely be contemplated even by the most ardent friends of Provincial autonomy that there should be nine or more, and as some contend many more, separate and independent Provincial Governments entirely free in all directions from supervision and control. Before any scheme of Provincial autonomy could be established, the functions that should be entrusted to them and the degree of supervision and control to be exercised over them must be

explored with patience. Here is an unlimited field of work waiting for those who, like the Minority of the Reforms Inquiry Committee, believe that the present Constitution must be radically amended. Meantime close contact with the practical working of the present machine will provide a useful corrective against too great an obsession with theory, which history shows to be a danger ever lurking in wait for the drafter of Constitutions.

Before I close I would draw attention to an attitude not uncommon among politicians that the programme and conditions of advance laid down in the preamble of the Government of India Act are a humiliation to India in that the prescription of successive stages and the testing of each stage by results is a reflection on the capacity of Indians. Be it remembered that we are engaged on a problem new to India and new also to the British Parliament. I think the nature of the problem as it presents itself to the British people is not fully appreciated by those who express themselves as humiliated. They assume that the path to self-government lies along a broad metalled road, and that if they could only be freed from the impediments and restrictions imposed by the present form of government, they could run safely, rapidly and directly to their goal. To my mind the problem presents itself under a different figure. I think rather of a man picking his way through unexplored regions towards his destination which glimmers faint, but clear in the distance. He halts on firm ground and seeks the next spot to which he can safely entrust himself. A rash step may engulf him or delay his progress indefinitely. His advance may not be rapid, but it is well and surely planned. As he advances, experience teaches him to distinguish more certainly and quickly the firm ground from the treacherous surface. And so he wins to his ultimate goal.

Gentlemen, if I may strike a personal note, the natural term of my period of office is rapidly approaching, and my future opportunities of addressing you, the Members of the Indian Legislature, must necessarily be few. I have spoken to you to-day from the conviction of my heart-I trust without rousing a tinge of bitterness or animosity. I have expressed to you the thoughts of one who, whatever mistakes or errors he may have committed, has a warm affection for India and a deep devotion to her interests. For these reasons I have been desirous of carrying you with me along the only avenue which, in my judgment, can lead to the Promised Land-to the proud heights of India's destination. It is my earnest prayer that India, with the co-operation of all of us-of every race, community and interest-that wish her well, may avoid the pitfalls that beset her path and win through to the goal to which her face is set.

APPENDIX VII.

PRESS COMMUNIQUE AND CORRESPONDENCE REGARDING INDIANS IN SOUTH

AFRICA.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA.

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, HEALTH AND LANDS.

(Overseas.)

Simla, the 23rd April 1926.

Press Communiqué.

On February 17th last the Government of India published the correspondence which had passed between them and the South African Government since April 8th, 1925, regarding the Indian question in South Africa. The papers then published showed that the Government of India, being gravely concerned at the series of ordinances curtailing Indian civil and economic rights and privileges recently passed in South Africa, took the initiative in suggesting a conference between their representatives and representatives of the Union Government as a preliminary to the formulation of a comprehensive Indian policy in South Africa which would afford an acceptable solution of the whole question. The Union Government, however, saw difficulties in the vay of accepting this suggestion and decided that a preferable course was to put forward in the form of a bill the alternative proposals for dealing with the Indian question which they favoured. This bill, which is known as the Areas Reservation and Immigration and Registration (Further Provision) Bill, was introduced into the House of Assembly last July. In order to place the Government of India in a position to appreciate the circumstances which had led up to the bill and to make representations regarding it with special reference to the general question of alleviating direct competition between Asiatics and Europeans, they agreed that the Government of India should send a deputation to South Africa to enquire into and report on the economic condition and general position of the resident Indian community in South Africa and to form an appreciation of their wishes and requirements. The deputation sailed on November 25th, 1925, and its preliminary report was received in India early in January. On the basis of the facts disclosed in that report, the Government of India felt justified in renewing their proposal for a round table conference and pressed that, if that proposal was still unacceptable there was a case for a fresh enquiry before the proposed legislation was proceeded with. Neither of these suggestions commended themselves to the Union Government, who, however, expressed their willingness to give the Government of India an opportunity of placing the case of the

Indian community in South Africa fully before them by offering to take the course of proposing the reference of the Areas Reservation Bill to a Select Committee before, instead of after, the second reading, in order that the Indian objections to the Bill might be heard in respect of its principles as well as of its details. This offer the Government of India accepted, and their deputation appeared before the Select Committee early in March and presented the Indian case against the Bill on broad grounds of principle. In the meantime it appeared from the report of the speech in which the Minister of the Interior had moved that the Areas Reservation Bill be referred to a Select Committee that the Union Government were possibly under some misapprehension regarding the attitude of the Government of India towards a round table conference. They therefore again addressed the Union Government pointing out that they were as anxious as ever to participate in a round table conference and had no desire to limit the scope of its discussions in the manner which the Minister seemed to suppose. In reply to this communication the Union Government stated that they were prepared to take such steps as were still at their disposal to keep the door open for a further consideration of the Indian question provided that they had an assurance of the probability that the problem would be really and effectively solved through the instrumentality of a conference. This evidence that the Union Government were no longer averse to the idea of a Conference on certain terms was welcomed by the Government of India who expressed themselves as equally anxious that the conference, if arranged, should not prove abortive and pressed the view that the right method of arriving at a real and effective solution of the Indian question would be for both parties to enter the conference without being committed in advance to any particular solution of the questions at issue. They suggested that the Union Ministers might confer informally with the Leader of the Indian deputation in order to ascertain whether the obstacles in the way of a conference could not be overcome. The sugggested conversations took place at Capetown early in April and resulted in a better understanding and appreciation of the respective points of view and difficulties of the two Governments. The Union Government have impressed upon the Government of India that public opinion in South Africa would not view with favour any settlement which did not hold out a reasonable prospect of safeguarding the maintenance of western standards of life by just and legitimate means and on this basis have agreed to enter a conference the recommendations of which will be subject to confirmation by the Governments of both countries. They have also agreed, subject to the approval of the Union Parliament, to postpone further progress with the Areas Reservation Bill until the results of the conference are available. The basis on which the conference will be held is embodied in the following formula which has been accepted by both Governments:

"The Government of the Union of South Africa and the Government of India have been further in communication with each other regarding the best method of arriving at an amicable solution of the Indian problem. The Government of the Union have impressed upon the Government of India

that public opinion in South Africa will not view with favour any settlement which does not held out a reasonable prospect of safeguarding the maintenance of Western standards of life by just and legitimate means. The Government of India are prepared to assist in exploring all possible methods of settling the Asiatic question and have offered to enter into a conference with the Union Government for the purpose. Any proposal that the Conference might make would be subject to confirmation by the Governments of the two countries. The Union Government have accepted the offer of the Government of India, and in order to ensure that the conference should meet under the best auspices, have decided, subject to the approval of the Select Comn.ittee and Parliament, not to proceed further with the Areas Reservation and Immigration, and Registration (Further Provision) Bill until the results of the conference are available."

It is anticipated that the Conference will take place before the end of the year. The Indian deputation whose action has largely contributed to the better understanding of the problem on both sides, which is reflected in the present position of the question, will sail from Delagoa Bay on April 28th by the S.S." Karapara."

FURTHER CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA REGARDING THE POSITION OF INDIANS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

(20)

Telegram to the Governor-General of South Africa, Capetown, No. 135-03., dated Delhi, the 20th February 1926.

Government of India understand from reports which they have received that the Minister of Interior in his speech moving that the Areas Reservation Bill be referred to Select Committee before second reading stated that the Government of India had been informed by the Union Government that, while they were not opposed in principle to a Round Table Conference, the discussions must include question of ways and means required to make the scheme of voluntary repatriation of Indians more effective. Had Governrent of India agreed to this point being included in agenda Round Table Conference would have been held. But as we did not see our way to agree to discussion of this particular point, Union Government could not agree to conference.

2. If Dr. Malan has been correctly reported, we fear that there has been some misunderstanding regarding our attitude on this point. In our telegram, dated October 9th, we made it clear that a conference of which the main object was to expedite Indian repatriation was not contemplated by us. We nevertheless indicated that we were prepared to discuss the working of the existing system of voluntary repatriation and maintained the same attitude in subsequent communications. We have never refused to include the question of repatriation as above described within the scope of discussion of pro