§ 1. Major GRAHAM POLEasked the Secretary of State for India whether he can make a statement as to the present state of affairs in India?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for INDIA (Mr. Wedgwood Benn)I am circulating a statement giving the Government of India's appreciation of the situation for the week ending 24th January.
§ Following is the statement:
§ Appreciation of the situation by the Government of India up to 25th January, 1931.
§ The declaration of policy made by the Prime Minister on 19th January has out-shadowed all other events, and the attention of India is directed towards his announcement and its effects on the internal situation. In these circumstances, this appreciation is confined to this aspect of the week's happenings.
§ Except in some quarters the announcement has received a good press, and moderate opinion generally recognises the fact that the statement of the intentions of His Majesty's Government has created a new situation in which all parties can co-operate in order to bring to fulfilment a new constitution. The Nationalist party in the Legislative Assembly have accepted the statement of policy as welcome and gratifying, and approve of the principles underlying it subject to further considerations, after details are evolved regarding precise form and structure of new Government. They urge a general political amnesty, and appeal to Congress leaders to co-operate and unite with rest of country in securing such modifications and improvements as may be found necessary.
575§ Muslim members of Assembly acknowledge efforts of His Majesty's Government to meet, in full, the political aspirations of India, and accept necessity of certain safeguards during period of transition. They approve, in particular, of the Prime Minister's announcement regarding guarantees for protection of political liberties and rights of minorities, and ask that, failing an agreement between communities, His Majesty's Government should take special care that guarantees are substantive and effective. They appeal to all communities to secure a settlement by consent. They urge an amnesty, and, in particular, release of particular leaders, in order that maximum of good will and co-operation may be obtained in the evolution of new constitution.
§ Other important interests in country have followed much same line.
§ A meeting of the Working Committee of All-India Congress was held during week to consider announcement, but in deference to a message received from Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru and Messrs. Sastri and Jayakar, Committee have suspended publication of the resolution they had passed until the delegates return to India. They have announced, that, in the meantime, Civil Disobedience Movement is to continue.
§ In order that Congress leaders may have the fullest opportunity of examining the new situation created by announcement, and of reaching conclusions regarding their attitude towards further discussions of constitutional problems that will necessarily take place, Government have released those members of the Working Committee of All-India Congress who are undergoing imprisonment, and also those who have acted as members of Committee since 1st January, 1930. No conditions have been imposed on release, and the Viceroy, in a statement issued on 25th January, has made it clear that action has been taken in pursuance of the desire that such peaceful conditions will be created as will enable Government to implement the undertaking given by the Prime Minister that, if civil quiet were proclaimed and assured, Government would not be backward in response.