MR. BALDWIN ON INDIAN POLICY.
"JOURNEY THROUGH TANGLED JUNGLE.”
·PLEDGE THAT MUST BE HONOURED
LIVELY DEBATE IN THE HOUSE.
[NKLER AND BRITISH WIRELESS.]
LONDON, Nor. 7.
In the House of Commons to-day the debate on India was opened by Mr. Stanley Baldwin who made allusion to the Daily Mail episode, and disclosed that he agreed to the publication of the Viceroy's pro- clamation provided the Simon Com- mission concurred, but when the latter disicated he withdrew his agreement, with the concurrence of bis colleagues. He emphasised that all parties were agreed that the pledge to grant India a responsible Government should be honoured, but they could not hope to live to see the ideal of solving the Indian problem realised, but would work in faith,
Honcuring A Pledge,
THE HONG KONG DAILY PRESS, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1929.
FORD PRICES CUT.
AMERICAN ECONOMIC
STABILITY
[United Press.]"
Detroit, Nov, 1.-The Ford Mo tor Co. today announced a subst- antial reduction in the prices of its motor-cars.
A statement issued to-day said All parties in this country are
that this action was taken because "we feel that such a step is the best agreed that that pledge shall be honoured and it will form the most responsible task of the Commission contribution that can be made to of which Sir John Simon is the insure continuation of the prosant Chairman to point out what steps of business throughout the at this moment it is most desirable country. to take.
"Could there be any doubt what- ever, in any quarter of the House," added Mr. Baldwin, that the posi- tion of India with full responsible Government in the Empire when attained, and, whatever form it might take so far as the internal Government of. India was concern ed, most be one of equality with the other States of the Empire!
"No Conservative Party with which I am connected will fail in sympathy and endeavour to help in our time and to the utmost extent of our ability in the solution of the greatest political problem Liberal Leader's Doubts.
which lies, before us to-day. Our Mr. Lloyd George declared that work must be done in faith so that the Viceroy's declaration created whez, perhaps after long genera the impression of a change of potions to come, there are men who licy far beyond their previous will be putting the coping stones pledges.
on this foundation, they may hap- pily not be forgetful of those who toiled with faith among the foun-
Captain Wedgwood Bent said that the only change there had been was, in the sense of a new spirit The Montagu policy stood as a car- dinal article of faith in the Bri- tish policy towards India Indians would now have the opportunity of expressing their views and propos ing solutions at a stage when every- thing they say will be heard in time.
Sir John Simon said that the Commission was completely united, They intended to continue to dia charge their duties and hoped to report early in 1930.
FULL TEXT OF DEBATE.
the
Mr. Stanley Baldwin, the Con-
kader, opened servative debate with a statement regarding his attitude towards the issue of the declaration concerning Dominion Status for India.
He said that on Friday, Septem. ber 20, the Secretary for India visited him charged with a letter from the Premier.
The Premier asked him to con- cür in the issue of a statement concerning Dominion Status in the event of the Bimon Commission be- ing consulted and agreeing, and the consent of all parties being obtained. He replied that so far as he was concerned he would con- eur but he could not speak for his colleagues or bis party.
his
On October 23, he met colleagues and learned for the first time that the Simon Commis sion had net approved the publicz tion of Lord Irwin's Proclamation.
Clearly, a new
situation had arisen and therefore he called together the ex-Secretary for India and Lord Salisbury and it was at once decided that he should write to the Premier pointing out that in all the circumstances he could not agree to the publication of the
note.
A Voluntary Action.
dations.
Liberal Point of View.
"It is our belief," the statement went on," that basically the in- dustry and business of the country are sound.
There is every indication that Seneral conditions will remain prosperous."..
also wanted, if possible, to get a good atmostphere which would be better secured if they could clear up those doubts before the report of the Statutory Commission was issued.
It was because those reasons ap- peared to the Government good and sound that they took the course they did. Mr. Lloyd George had asked whether there had been any change of policy. Capt. Wedgwood Benn said that using the word in its widest sense there had been a change. A new spirit had been in- troduced. An effort had been made to make the Indian people realise" the position they occupied in the British Commonwealth and to give
Mr. Lloyd George, the Liberal them an assurance of equality,
A member of leader, said he was the Government that introduced the reforms in India and presided over the Cabinet that not only sanctioned but framed the declare tions in reference to the future self-government of India.
A second change that the Gor- erament had made was far more important, namely in regard to the conference.
There was no question so far as the Liberals were concerned of go- ing back one single inch from those declarations. Those declara- tions were considered carefully not only by the British Cabinet, they were considered during the War at the Imperial Cabinet, where there
of were representatives
every
Dominion in the British Empire including India.
He explained the nature of the pledge which was given to India, and why full partnership was not conceded immediately.
It was owing purely to practical difficulties. The first difficulty was that never in the whole his- tory of India had India or any part of it ever enjoyed the slightest measure of democratic self-govern-
ment until 1919..
Secondly, that 05 per cent, of the population was illiterate, and thirdly, there were as many dif- nationalities and ferent races,
да there languages
were in the whole of Europe.
All these facts, had to be taken into account.
“
The conference was
to he fully representative of the different partics and interests in India and in the Indian states
Sir John Simon's Speech. Sir John Simon, Chairman of the Statutory Commission, said the Commission had endeavoured to discharge their duties and would Ao on discharging them. Tho Com- mission was absolutely determind to do nothing which could be con.. strued or misconstrued as presenta tion of an international report.
The functions of the Commission" could neither be enlarged" nor diminished by any declaration, or statement made by anybody.
con-
He earnestly asked Parliament to leave the Commissien to tinue their work andisturbed with- out Parliamentary conflict.
The
members of the Commission had an undivided and sincere desire to serve not only India, not only Bri- One out- tain but both together. tome of the events of the last few days was to make everybody realise that the future constitutional pro- gress of India was one of the most complicated as well as the most im- portant questions in the whole world.
TC-
The Prime Minister said the de The Imperial War Cabinet, in 1917, with the Prime Ministers of claration of the Viceroy was all the Dominiona present, decided quired because after 1910 pro that there should be accorded to paganda had been started asking the people. of India a considerable the Indian people to believe the measure of self-government, limit- British Government had departed ed, restricted, experimental, tenta-
from its policy. A declaration was a better tive, but they promised, and, (this necessary in order that was where the pledge came in), should be established pending the atmosphere and more confidence gradually it the experiment was successful, to extend it until ulti-Pablication of the report. of the Commission. "The debate ended, mately India enjoyed full partner the motion for adjournment being ship in the Empire on equal terms withdrawn. with our great Dominions.
INDIAN POTENTATE'S
APPROVAL.
A GLIMPSE OF THE
· FUTURE.
[DRITISH WIRELES SERVICE]
Roony, Nov. 8. The Maharajah of Alwar, one of the ruling Princes of India, in un address to members of all political
It was not a true statement that the old Cabinet of the Conserva. ive Party insisted he should for.
A Wrong Impression? mally repudiate his personal
But they made it clear that the pledges and required him to write ultimate goal could only be reach the letter to the Premier with-ed by stages, that the length and drawing his approval and support the number of those stages must of Indian Home "Rule. What be determined carefully from time actually happened was as soon as to time by the success which attend. he knew the Simon Commissioned the experiments at each stage. refused to take any responsibility Mr. Lloyd George regretted that. for the publication of Lord Irwin's while the report of the Simon Com- letter he met his colleagues and mission was being awaited "a de told them the whole circumstances claration was issued with the con: of his correspondened with the
bent of the Government, which had Premier and then wrote with their created the impression in India approval and not under their that it was intended without delay House of Commos, cordially wel coercion, his letter to the Premier. to confer full Dominion Status on comed the announcement, in
Speaking on the general subject
India.
Simon MacDonald correspondence, of the pronouncement of the Vice-
Capt. Wedgwood Benn, the Se- and also the Viceroy's pronounce roy of India, Mr. Baldwin said it cretary for India, anid the Gov-ment on the ultimate goal of was 'absurd to talk of a crisis.
ernment were not taking in effect British policy, no crystallised in the There was no crisis and had been administrative action and were de- words" Dominion. Status, none. The situation had only declaring and interpreting in unmis- Having referred to the special takable terms the existing policy. position of India States, the The declaration was a restatement Maharajah added that, the goal of and an interpretation of the Mon-India did not seem to him to be in tague policy. Lord Irwin's state- doubt but difficulties appeared ment meant what is said, no less when the question was considered as and no more. The Montague policy regards the time as to when this stood as, the cardinal article of Dominion Status goal might be faith in the British policy towards reached. He continued "My simple
manded elucidation.
India's Futuro.
With regard to India's future Mr. Baldwin said:"Let us never forget that the whole of the great Indian Peninsula had been for centuries the scene of invasions and struggles and that perhaps for a India. space we have given her interna- tional peace-we have given her justice and a rule of law.
"I pray that those three things peace, justice and a rule of law may accompany India and our selves throughout every stage of the long and arduous journey which lies before us now.
At best it is a difficult journey, a journey that will have to bo taken through the tangled jungle of creeds and castes, of ancient in- terests and immemorial hate.
We have promised India in our declaration "responsible Govern
ment.
Government's Reasons,
.
parties in a committee room of the
tho
answer to that proposition is that
when by actual consent between the Government of British India and ourselves our future relations are. so adjusted that we can all united ly work towards achievement of this The Conferener that has been
The first reason for the Govern ment taking the action they did was that they were advised to do so by the Viceroy." He would like ideal. to abselve the Viceroy because he came to England as an ambassador suggested will be a fundamental of peace and had gone back to factor, I moet deretedly hope, in There the achievement of this method, and India ass peace maker. had grown up in recent years a then it will only remain for each doubt in India about British poons of us concerned to aspire to- licy. The Viceroy said that for the wards the ideal, which in my case has always been a United States of removal of that doubt it was necesIndia with the States working out sary to issue a clear declaration their own destiny, in accordance of existing policy, The Viceroy with their own traditions and en-
(Continued on next Volumn).vironment."
PACIFIC AIRSHIP SERVICES.
OHIO TO MANILA BY ZEPPELIN.
AMBITIOUS SCHEME.
AKRON, O., Oct. 30,
A gigantic construction pro gramme of the Pacific Zeppelin Transport Corporation has been announced by Mr. Paul W Litch- field, chairman of the board of directors of the concern, who said that it has been planned to begin service betweed the Pacific Const and the Philippines rid Hawaii by
His
will company
spend $13,000,000 to build four Zeppelin dirigibles of 3000 cubic feet helium capacity, while an enormous zgar will be erected at Akron and Los Angeles, and mooring masts will be established at Hawaii and the Philippines,
1032.
■
Two." Zapps On Hawaiian' Run.
New York. At the first executive meeting of the Pacific Zeppelin Transport Co., Commander J. C. Hunsaker was elected president and Mr. Paul Litchfield” was chosen chairman of the board of directors, while Oir. E. P. Farley, headed the executive committee.
It
announced that two dirigiles of 50,000 cubic feet capacity each will soon be construct ed for service between the West Coast and Hawaii, with 36 hours estimated flying time.
Wha
Terminal hangars will be crested in Hawaik, and mooring masts will be put up at Guam and Manila and there will later he used as emergency stations when the service is extend- ed westward.
CHRISTMAS LETTER
MAIL.
The Postmaster-General ap- rounces that the Christmas letter mail for Great Britain rid Suez will be closed at the G.P.O. as follows:-
Registered mail: 9.45 a.m. on Saturday, November 93.
Ordinary mail: 10.30 am. on Saturday, November 23... This mail will be forwarded by the 3.8. Kashgar and is due in London on December 23:
The public are reminded that dutiable articles sent by letter post are liable to confiscation. Christmas cards containing not more than 5 written words will be forwarded at special rates for printed papers, if the envelope be left open.
Ground operations, "construction of masts, etc, will be conducted with the collaboration of the Navy, which is at present. building two dirigibles similar to the proposed commercial ships and which will be able to use the same landing facilities
The Itinerary..
New York. Oct. 29.-The Paci- le Zeppelin Transport Corporation, recently incorporated in New York, announced yesterday its plan of immediately establishing service between San Francisco and Manila. Each dirigible will carry 80 passengers and 10 tons of freight and mails, making the journey every two weeks, but the" actual flight can be make in one week's tims.
The enterprize is backed by the Corporation, Goodyear-Zeppelin the National City Company, Gray- son Murphy and Lehman Brothers. The airship, which will be the Jargest in the world, will be ready for operation by the end of 1932. costing about 84,000,000 to build with a capacity of 8,300.000 cubic feet.
The dirigible will stop only at Honolulu between San Francisco and Manila, but a mooring, mast for emergency purposes may be erected at Guam Island. The com- pany plans to build four dirigibles, maintaining weekly service with Hawaii. Experts agree that Presi-- dent Hoover may possibly approve of the plan...
Proposed Polar Flight. -
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN, Oct. 30.. The Zeppelin Compary, have ac- cented the crew's demand of paying additional insurance premiums, and the Graf Zeppelin will start on its fight to the North Pole early next enr. The proposed fight to the. North Pole by the Graf Zeppelin had been reported as given up on account of the crow's unwillingness to participate in the hazardous ven- ture without provision "for their families in case of an accident."
The dirigible wil make an exten- sive test flight in Sweden and Nor- way early next month, announced the Company.
KUOMINCHUN HARD FRANCE'S FOREIGN THE SOVIETS DAY.
PRESSED.
- CAPTURE OF 50,000 **REBELS,"
HEAVY REVERSES.
1.
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)
NANKING, Nov. 8.
An official communique issued by the Waichinopu states that Kuo- minchun insurgents along the Lung- hai are in a precarious position, A military conference summoned by Tang Seng Chi decided to emp ture Mienchih ia fire days and
·Tangkwaa in ten. "
"Owing to the mobilisation of Shansi troops 50,000 rebels surren dered to Liu Chen Huc, while at- tempting to enter Shansi after a- defeat at Chiyuan."
In view of the heavy, lomes in- mieted by Government forces, the insurgents
their have removed General Headquarters to Sianfu.
KUOMINTANG ATTACK EXPECTED.
A OHANGE OF PLANS.
[THEOUCK REUTER'S AGENCY.]
SHANGHAI, Nov. 8. Reuter's Hankow correspondent reports almost a complete dearth of news from the Honan war zone today and it would appear that a lull prevails on all fronts.
However, it is offcially stated that the Government is templating the launching of a new attack as soon possible with
COU-
General Liu Hsin commanding the Right Wing, General Yang Chih, controlling the Left and Generals Wang Chung and Ho Cheng Chun, the Centre.
The vernacular papers report that General Sun Liang Chen, the principal commander of the Kuo- minchun forces, was wounded in recent engagement with the Nation- alist forces, but this is a rumour only and it has not been confrmed ed from any source.
Ho Chian's Task.
"
It is learned that General Ho Chien has been requested to de- spatch troops "from Hunan to as- sist in the anti-rebel expedition and in the meantime it is officially reported that "General Kuo Tsc Tung, the Szechuan leader, has crossed the Hupeh border and is coming to the Government's assist
ance..
The armoured train "Cheng Chen" which up to now has been kept at Hankow has been despatch- ed to patrol the Peping-Hankow Railway in the region of Sinyang- chow-to prevent possible attempts by small railway parties of Kuo- minchun troops from damaging the railway for the telegraphs.
"Reds" Unlucky.
No further reports have been re- ceived in connection with the Com- munist trouble at Taych and it is believed that the threatened upris ing has been nipped in the bad as the result of prompt action by the Chinese and Japanese in co-opera-
tion.
TO BE OR NOT TO BE?
THE STRANGE CASE OF YEN HLSI SHAN.
[THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.]
PEPING, NOV, 8. With reference to yesterday's statement by Yen Hui Shan, during the night a high Shans oficial from Garrison Headquarters tried to communicate with Reuter. Fail- ing to do so, he communiented with the foreign papers in Peping, re- questing the withdrawal and non- publication of the letter containing Yen's statements concerning the re- ferences to him in the Feng Yu Hsiang interview,
Ya Hai Shan's statement' refer- red to, is contained in the following Reuter message of November 7- With reference to the interview with Feng Yu Hsiang, an official at headquarters of the Peping-Tientsin garrison informs Reuter to-night that" Yen Hsi Ghaa has authorised him to announce that the interview Bo far as it refers to Yen is grouad- Jess,"
|
DOCTOR VICTIMIZED IN -HARBIN.
A SHAMEFUL CASE,
(THROUGH.REUTER'S AGENCY.]
HARBIN, Nov. 8.
A lady doctor, Keselman, em ployed by the railway at Taitaihar, charged with causing the death of one Chinese, has been found guilty and sentenced to one year's im prisonment.
Teceased applied for medical treatment when Dr. Keseiman found in the windpipe's hard piece of Chinese bread. To extract this she used a probe. Deceased during the operation became nervous, and grabbed the probe, releasing the afety lock, resulting in half the. instrument sticking in the bronchia, Deceased refused to agree to the operation necesary to remove the obstacle, and consequently died. (Continued at fool of next column.)
POLICY.
DETERMINED TO PROTECT FRONTIER.
A STUDIED VIEW.
(THROUGH REUTER'S AGENCY.)
CELEBRATING THE REVOLUTION.
[United Press)
Moscow, Nov. 7. Millions of Russiane, Ukranians, Georgians and other citizens of the vast Soviet Union are taking part to-day in fervent celebrations of the twelfth anniversary of the Bol-
PARIS, Nov. 7. The Ministerial declaration read in Parliament lays down the prin ciples of foreign policy, and pro- mises that nothing shall be von-shevik Revolution. This is the first cluded without parliamentary rati- of a two-day holiday signalizing the cation, and nothing be submitted to seizure of power by the Sovista, Parliament capable of diminishing under Communist leadership, on
November 7, 1917. French moral and political sude pendence
· Monster, parades, meetings, sporá Efforts will be aimed at healing the past irritation, the reinforce-festivals, and other expressions of ment of peace and the development
mass sentiment are being held in of understanding between the peo-
every city, town and village of the ples.
Union.
Evacuation in the third Rhine- Innd zone will be subordinated to the realisation of measures calculat-
In the capital here at least half. anilion men, women, and children are expected to join in the most im- ed to assure the operation of the pressive parade of the year, pour- Young Plan, The defensive or
ing from all sections of the spread- ganisation of frontiers will be purout city into its heart, Red Square, sued and the liberty of France's to be reviewed by leaders of the communications with the "Colonial Covernment and the ruling Com Empire be safeguarded.
munist Party. The civilian parade will as usual, be preceded by a great military show, including Young Communists and Pioneers (equivalent to the Boy and Girl Scouts in other countries), -
It is in this spirit, faithful to the position taken up at Geneva by all the Government's predeces sors concerning naval and land dis. armament, that France will par- ticipate in the forthcoming London Conference.
Evacuation Orders Cancelled.
BERLIN, Nov. 7.
The newspaper Forwaert ports today that evacuation orders recently issued to a French regi-
ment at Kreuznach have been aud- denly cancelled.
The Young Idea.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of tho celebration is the participa- retion of millions of boys and girle either born since the Revolution or too young in 1917 to remember any- thing about life before the great of change. To them the past Tarism, landlords, and million- aires is something as far and unreal as the discovery of America. They are completely attached to the new their elders may think. In this lies system, regardless of what some of a great deal of the strength of the revolutionary regime, and every passing year places now emphasis upon this support
The French troops were actually at the railway station at Mayence entering the train when the can- cellation orders were received. Their commander ordered them to disembark and they returned to their old barracks.
Forwaerts expresses the hellef that this is due to the change in the French Cabinet, the elimina- tion of M. Painlere from the War Office. The new War Minister, M. Maginot, has always insisted that the Third Zone will only be evacuated after the Young Repara tions Plan comes into force.
MINERS AND COAL PROPOSALS.
"
DISCUSSION AT LONDON CONFERENCE,
SENSATION AGAIN!
Moscow has looked forward for monaha to this occasion for the un- veiling of the new Mausoleum o Red Square holding the embalmed body of Lenin. For the fire five years after his death Lenin's body rested in a simple wooden structure, This has now been replaced by a more elaborate stone mausoleum.
The Five-Year Plan The twelfth anniversary takes place in a period of great economio strain.
On October 1 the Soviet Union began the second year of its astonishing Five-Year-Plan of The first year, industrialization. had proved, so far as essentials are There is concerned, successful. every reason to believe that the se-.. cond, too, will measure up to the plans. These successes, however, involve a prodigious national effort and enormous sacrifices by the po- pulation. LONDON, Nov. 7. The National Delegate Confer ence of the Miners' Federation for the third day in succession dis cussed the Government's proposals, including the reduction of hours to 72. It was not suggested that the proposals should be rejected be cause the Government" was unable to induce the coalowners to attend the joint meeting.
(THROCCE REUTER'S AGENCY.]
The Executive reported that they continue to urge on the Govern ment the necessity of national agreement and national mini-
mum wage.
The Secretary, Mr. A. J. Cook, stated that the coalowners were very foolish in refusing to attend the joint conference.
The Miners' Federation Confer ence carried the recommendation of the executive in accepting the gen eral principles of the Government's proposals, and the recommendation will now go to the districts for con- sideration.
To carry out its plans for turn- ing Russia into a self-sustaining industrial nation, the Soviet regime is obliged to re-invest every rouble it makes. It must deny to its peo- ple everything that smacks of luxury and much that belongs in the category of necessities. Com fort now is being deliberately sacri- fired for the sake of the industri- alized future.
While there are many who grum- ble against these enforced sacrifices, especially in the agricultural re gions, even the grumblers join in the celebration to-day. The dis- satisfaction is directed against, some of the Government policies, but not against the Government it- self It is the failure to make this
important distinction which has given courage to so many false prophets of the overthrow of the Soviet system...
DEMOCRACY AT HEROES' DINNER.
There was a sensation when the President, Mr. Herbert Smith, left the chair and walked out of the conference with the whole of the Yorkshire delegation, because they THE SPIRIT OF ARMISTICE said they had no mandate to vote on any recommendation. The York shire delegates urged that the pro- pegals should be put to the "dis- tricts without the recommendation.
SINO-JAPANESE AFFAIRS.
MORE PEACEFUL TREND AT KYOTO..
(THROUGH EKUTZE'S AGENCY.]
Kyoro, Nov. 8.. The round-table conferences upon Sino-Japanese relations are gradu ally tending towards the formation of a Board of Conciliation.“
It is understood that a special committee has been appointed to prepare plans for its organization, and the scope of its activities.
It is hoped that before the Con ference breaks up something more tangible will be announced.
DAY.
· [BRITISH WIRELESS SERVICE)
RUGBY, Nov. 8. In order to ensure the avoiding of social distinctions not in keep- ing with the occasion, the seating arrangements for the Prince of Wales dinner, to-morrow night to holders of the Victoria Cross have been determined by ballot. Thus officials of high rank may find them- selves seated alongside men who, served as privates, and one result of the draw is that the Prince of Walce, who will preside will have nu his immediate neighbours Via count Gort, and Sergeant Burman Bince the war Mr. Burman has been engaged as a chauffeur.
The only names not drawn for were those of severely injured men aho can only move with difficulty. These bave been allotted special places. Altogether there will be 820 holders of Victoris Crow at dinner, They include three blind men, Apart from there criminal pro- Fifteen moro Canadiads, arrived ceedings, action has been instituted in London yesterday for the dinner. by relatives of the deceased jointly including the youngest holder of against Dr. Keselman and, the Chi-decoration, Bergeant Elekette. A nese Eastern Railway for damages large party of Irish V.C's will "of 30,000 gold roubles.
reach London to-day,