London, July 21.
It has been decided that members the Labour, Conservative and Liberal parties will be represented on the British delegation to the London Round-Table Conference on India's future. The Conference opens in October.
'The following: statement was sued by the India Office on July'
In view of the uncertainty caused the public mind by various speculative statements regarding the relationship of the Indian Saturday Commission Report, popularly Known as the Simon Report, to the forthcoming Round-table Conference, the following authoritative statement may be than at any time since the civil disobedience campaign developed and they indicate a strong reaction against Congress activities.
The Legislature completed its session during the week. While there was inevitably criticism of measures the Government had been compelled to take, there was gener-recognition of the harm the civil disobedience movement is doing to India in all directions and the desire was freely expressed that the movement should be ended.
The belief is steadily ground that the solution of India's difficulties is to be sought along the lines indicated in the Viceroy's recent speech—that an attempt should be made to reach an agreed con-lusian at the round table confer-
The purpose of the Conference i early defined in the Viceroy's Htatement published on November 1 When the Commission and the Indian Central Committee have submitted their reports and these have Ween published, and when his Ma-Jesty's Government have been able, consultation with the Govern: of India, to consider these m:
the light of all the material then available, they will propose to invite representatives of different parti and interests in British India and representatives of the Indian States Yo meet them, separately or together ay circumstances may demand, for the purpose of conference and dis—enssion in regard both to the Bri Indian ard the All-Indian problems.
will be their earnest hope that by this moans it may subsequently prove possible on these grave issues submit proposals to Parliament which may command a wide measure general assent.
The feature of the forthcoming Round-Table Conference is that it will be a free conference, and, such, will have the power not only to deal with the Indian Statutory Commission Report and the Central Committee Report, but to advance any other scheme it may think fit. The Government will lay no proposals before the Conference, but will go into the Conference with an open mind. To say that the Indian Statutory Commission Report will form, the sole agenda of the Conference is a denial of the statement. that the Conference is to be free, To say that this Report, or any other, will be excluded from the Conference likewise a denial of this freedom.
And to say, in particular, that the Indian Statutory Commission Report iis now a dead letter is ridiculous. It in a document of enormous authority and intrinsic value, by far the most, constructive contribution to the solution of the problem of the political situation of India that we have. But} itrshould be noted that this Report, however authoritative and valuable, a report only and in no sense a decision of the Government or of Parliament. This point was made lear by the Chairman of the Commission himself when in Ind fence, the principle of which was supported by the Legislative Assembly after a full debate without a division.
The Viceroy's recent speech creat ed a marked effect and moderate opinion is expressing itself more strongly in favour of the abandonment of unconstitutional methods Reuter and Special, Viceroy Confers with Governors Simla, July 21.
Having obtained their views regarding the Simon Report from the Indian Princes and some members of the Legislature, the Viceroy, Lord. Irwin, to-day privately conferred with the provincial Governors.
felt by responsible leaders of proposals must be presented at the round table conference in London.
Meanwhile, the situation in India is, not cheerful, especially in Bombay, where the position is regarded as Firm after firm closing down, throwing hin: employees out of work and causing fan economic crisis which will affect the trade of the whole sub-continent.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.