Bombay, Feb. 23.
Shrouded in the strictest secrecy. 2 momentous conference of Indian Pfinces and their Ministers opened in the house of the Maharajah of Patiala this morning for the purpose of discussing the new Government of India Bill and matters pertalhing to it The Maharajah of Patiala presided at the meeting, at Which practically all important states were represented, including Hyderabad, Mysore, Barods, Travancore, Bikaner. Bhopal, Patiala Indore, Halpar, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bhavnagar, Kashmir and) Mahratta In fact, nearly two-thirds of. the population of the Indian States were represented.
It is understood that, after generat discussions. a resolution, alming al important amendments to the BU in order to enable the Princes to accept the measure, was moved and carried by an overwhelming majority, 'A communique will be issued later.
Interviewed by Reuter, the Maharajah of Patiala admitted the Conference had taken important decisions, while the Premier Bhavnagar said: "The Federation scheme is unacceptable to us without ital modifications. Therefore, we have decided to ask the Government, hough the Viceroy, to make important amendments"
The Princes, it is reported, are Jabouring under the grievance that the present Bill does not carry out the promises made in pledges given ty the States at various Conferences and does not adequately maintain their rights and privileges—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.