Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-15
Simon Report Gets
British Approval
BY A. G. GARDINER,

Enshnds Greatest Liberal Editor.
LONDON, June 14.-India has been
the oVeTshadowing subject of the week.
apart from the unfriendly article in
the Nation, the reception of the first
volume OF the Simon commission re-
port has been most cordial in the re-
sponsible press of all parties, and the
wisdom of presenting the character of
the problem before stating the nature
recognized.
The fact that the report is unani-
nous has created great satisfaction and
regarded as q remarkable triumph
for Sir John Simon, inasmuch as the
commission included the most authori.
tative Of all parties.
This unanimity practically assures
the solid backing Of Parliament to the
reform proposals, which viii be pub
Hsned in 10 days, and gives promise
OF favorable atmosphere In which the
round table conference win meet In
the Autumn for consideration of the
agreed policy.
The goal Of that policy is emphati.
cally reatflrmed by the commission
as responsible government within the
British Empire, but the difficulties in
the way OF early and full attainment
OF that goal are implicit In vastness
and completely. These the report
analyses.
The commission was evidently shocked
by the persistent and even increasing
rivalry Of the Hindus and Moslems
which has been aggravated by political
reforms and stirred by reforms Initiated
q decade ago. The analysis OF the
working Of these reforms is not wholly
favorable, especially in regard to the
provincial governments. The commits
sion's review Of those governments
amounts to q complete condemnation
OF the dyarchical system, which in
certain provinces has entirely broken
down. The report in this respect is
taken to foreshadow the removal of
the dual element and the practical con-
version OF the provincial legislatures
INTO entirely responsible Indian institu-
tons, subject not to the veto Of the
governors Of the province, but only to
the veto OF the central executive.
y
The commissions survey of the Diff
ficulties disposes of the expectation of
anything in the nature Of q directly
elected Parliament and points rather to
q constitution based on the federation
principle. This solution seems implicit
in the vastness of the country and the
vide disparity Of language, religious.
social and political conditions. For ex-
ample, the emphasis laid on the fact
that the Indian states independently
governed under British suSerainty con-
stitute orle-third Of the territory of
the country points to the necessity
Of the adoption Of the federal idea as
the only method of achieving a COM
prehensive all-India settlement in
which the claims of the Indian states
and OF the British Indian provinces
can be duly co-ordinated
That dominion status in the case of
so heterogeneous q continent as India
can be achieved in one stride is Of
course, impracticable, but the tenor of
commissions conviction that risk must
be taken in the interests of q decisive
advance toward the ideal
The success of the movement in
augurated by the commission depends
on force difficult to estimate. So far
as England Is concerned, opinion Is
ripe. for the most liberal action. The
die-hard element IL still rampant In
certain quarters, notably the HARMS
worthy press, but the influence of this
noisy faction Is quite negligible and
the practical agreement Of all respon-
sible statesmen Is assured.
$3.50
The real issue rests with India, Ra-
cial and party influences have gov
erned the reception Of the report in
India, but, except in extremist organs,
the value Of the commissions pre-
lim1nary survey Is recognized. By the
Swarajist leaders ana newspapers the
report has been prejudieed as can in
suit TO India" The leaders OF the
Moslem community on the other hand,
express approval in emphatic terms
and their views are shared by the
Ali Brothers, once the most fornidabls
supporters OF the Gandhi movement
The VerdNt of the Indian Atates is J