Evening star., 1933-06-25
Indian Reform Bill to
Test Baldwin's Prestige
BY A. G. GARDINER.

LONDON, June 24.-Never was the
world so full Of alarms and excursions.
While Adolf Hitler's latest thunderbolt
Is reverberating through Europe, while
Chancellor Dollfuss' struggle TO save
Austria from Nazi conquest is In the
balance, and while the World Economic
Conference awaits the arrival from
America of Raymond Moley to learn
whether it is alive or dead, new cloud
has risen on the British horizon that
involves the fate of the government
and the fate of India.
Next Wednesday Stanley Baldwin
faces a Conservative party caucus to
defend the government scheme OF cen
tralized self government In India II
the vote of the CAUCUS goes against
him, the probability is that he Will re-
sign his leadership Of the Conservative
party and retire from the government.
His retirement would involve the resig-
nation of Prime Minister Ramsay Mac
Donald, the breakup Of the national
government and the reconstitution OF
the cabinet, with the Conservative die
hards in unchallenged control.
This would mean abandonment OF
the Indian policy which the govern
ment, after prolonged sessions OF the
round-table conference, had adopted
and which is now being embodied in
bill for presentation in Parliament at
the next session. The policy goes far
in the direction of establishment OF
self government in India, with reser-
vations in regard to finance, defense
and external policy.
Ever since the publication Of the,
White paper foreshadowing this plan
for India, strong opposition has de-
veloped in the ranks OF the Conserva-
tive party. Winston Churchill, whose
exclusion from the national government
has made him an embittered critic OF
its activities, has carried on ceaseless
crusade against its Indian policy and
he has gathered around him the die
hard section of the Conservative party.
which is prepared to go to all lengths
to defeat the Indian measure. ~
If this were all, the danger would
not be serious; but behind the active
opposition there is large element of
honest doubt in the Conservative party
as to the wisdom of so vast an expert
ment in self-government. This doubt
has taken the shape Of hostile reso-
lutions at representative gatherings of
the party in all parts Of the country.
The Indian Defense League has been
formed to oppose the scheme, and one
of the leading members of the league Is
Rudyard Kipling. who is a cousin of
Mr.. Baldwin. The Conservative press
Is diWded-the London Morning Post
and the Beaverbrook Press voicing the
die-hard opposition, while the London
Times and London Daily Telegraph are
supporting the policy of the govern
ment.
Mr.. Baldwin himself has nailed his
colors to the mast in most uncompro-
missing fashion and so far has kept his
following, with the ex-
ception of the Churchillites, obedient
but unenthusiastic. His Conservative COL
leagues in the government are also
loyal. But the pressure of the outside
upon the parliamentary
party grows increasingly menacing, and
Wednesdays meeting of the Conserya-
tive caucus brings the issue to a crisis.
The gravity of the position is shown
oy the fact that the party organizers
wish to avoid straight vote for or
asdulSG Tie 1HSllaD ScQeme ana take
refuge in resolution which, while ex-
pressing no approval of a responsible
government for India, consents to par
iamentary consideration of the White
paper proposals. The die-hards. how
ever, are determined to force the issue
and to propose motion rejecting the
Indian policy.
If this motion is carried Mr.. Baldwin
S not compelled to resign. He might
lake the view that the question rests
With Parliament. not with outside or
yanizations. But it is improbable that
Mr. Baldwin will take this view. He
has committed himself so uncompro-
nisingly to Indian reform that he is
Unlikely to retain leadership of a party
which publicly repudiates his policy
lis personal prestige is so high that
he responsible elements In the G.
erVative party will probably save him
rom defeat and the national govern
nent from dissolution. 1t is cxpe..ed
nat the die-hard attack will be re-
,uised. but the formidable character Of
ne Conservative opposition bodies iii
or or the prospects Of the Indian reform
VI when it comes before Parliament.
(Copyright. 1880 ,,s,