New Britain herald., 1930-06-21
Implies That Program Will Be Adhered to Despite Present Hindu Passive Resistance.

CIdFed the bTlISn pOICN with reld ton to India has been lad down in numerous documents.
 The most important Of these he said. was the Montaol declaration of 1917, which spoke Of gradual de- velopment of self governing institu- tions with a view to the progressive realization of a responsible govern ment in India as an integral part of the British empire"
 On November 1. 1929. the viceroy. Lord Irwin. with the authority of his majesty's government, added that ''in their this majesty's govern ments) judgment, it was implicit in the declaration of 1917 that the nat ural issue Of India's constitutional progress as therein contemplated is the attainment of dominion status"
 Captain Benn's first point was that the government fixed aim is the achievement Of dominion status by India, and the government will not be deflected from it in any way by the present troubles. At the same time, II is the plain duty of any gov ernment to maintain order. This duty Is being discharged in India not in the interests of British domination, but in the interests of India, herself
 His second point vas:
 .SNait simon Report
 Tt would be a sorry thing if in passing on the responsibility to the Indians. Britain were to pass on a legacy of disorder. worse still, a legacy of disrespect for law. In the development of Britain's policy in accordance with the governments India act of 1919, a statutory com mission vas appointed under the Chairnanship of Sir John Simon Its final report will be made public in 8 few days,
 The first volume Of the report ss the world knows, contained an able survey of the conditions of the problem The second volume will contain recommendations by the commissioners,
 "The next stage in the pursuit Of British policy will be the holding Of q conference to which all sections of opinion in British India and the Indian states are to he invited. This conference will play a most import ant part in the pursuit Of the goal dominion status
 The secretary's third point in his comprehensive exposition of Britain plans vas. briefly.
 II will be by this conference and in agreement with Indian opinion that the eovernment's plans are to be matured.'
 Numerous Problems
 The conversation during the inter view included discussions of many phases of the Indian situauoa during which the minister emphasized the "eytraordinary difficult and unusu- al conditions in the vast continent of almost 320,0oo.o0o souls, of which not even the average Britisher IS aware"
 Small. smooth-s -shaven, silvery gray hair crowning an intelligent face. Captain Benn sat in an arm chair at his desk in private room in the house of commons during the interview. dark brown eyes gazing xt his interviewer through horn rimmed spectacles.
 As 10 the present situation the minister said, two facts emerge The disorder SO far as it has occurred has been localized, But it would ne q great mistake to ignore the tact that far beyond the all-lndla con- eress circles there is an urgent desire to acquire for India an equality status with other parts of the Brit ish commonwealth.
 The difficulties which have 10 be faced are not chiefly British. In the main. they are Indian. The total nonulation Of India IS almost three times that of the United States. but so far from being homogeneous. tSe populace is sharply divided into re- ligions and castes.
 The general desire for an equal status for India in the Brltish cofh- ronvealth is indeed to be found Tn common in all the principal dlNls- ions, but the difficulty is to devise g scheme which will be acceptable to all. Patriotic Indians have worked on this problem for q long tune ana the solution of it among the lndlans themselves is vital to the achleFe- ment Of their purpose,
 Hindu Princes Object
 The situation IS further conpil- cated by the fact that more than one-third of the Indian continent consists of states ruled by Indian princes who owe tribute to hlhg George as emperor of India, and are in treaty relations of VarNlng hlnds with the British crown. but are not subject to the laws made by the British Indian legislature. They ob- feet to having their destinies placed under the control of any ne" form of government except with their own full consent
 The trouble IS that India Tn the past has been really geographlcal term. Our problem is how to convert it into a political entity without do- Ing an injustice to the interests Of the many elements concerned am very far from saying things are as they should be. The standard of living is very low. industrial condi- tion are bad and poverty is wide tpread but although what remains to be done is immense. we can at 1aast claim we alredy have accom- phshed something that is not incon- siderable"
 At this point, the minister inter rupted the conversation and produc- od several long sheets of statistics indicating improved conditions Of health. increased savings, an increase n the number of factories and trade