Evening star., 1933-03-31
A Constitution for India.

1t is probably too much to hope that
Mr.. Gandhi's great army of supporters
or the Nationalist Congress, which is
their political organization, will accept
as satisfactory the proposed constitu-
tion for India which the British Par
lament is about to enact. Yet the plan
strikes fair-minded foreign observers as
far-reaching and generous gesture in
the direction Of government.
From that complete and immediate
independence for which Mr.. Ghandi is
agitating the program is, of course, far
removed. 1t is nevertheless an i'm
mense advance toward that goal. In
the realm of local self-government,
throughout the provinces of British
India, concessions are broad. They ex-
tend the franchise to one-fourth of the
adult population, and the provincial
legislatures and governments enjoy yir-
tually unrestrained autonomy and re-
sponsibility.
To limited extent, the American
Federal system seems to have served as
model. At the center-as at Wash
ington-an Indian prime minister. cor
responding in respect of many of his
prerogatives to our President, presides
over cabinet responsible to the federal
legislature, which happens to be dom
mated by conservative bloc. OF the
CGn Y1oay,1havc IN, ho
are to be appointed by the native
princes and 10 by the British viceroy.
In the lower house, 125 of the 375
members are the princes appointees,
while the remaining $50 are elected
from British India under franchise
restricted to less than five per cent of
the adult population. Under this set-up
the Hindu Nationalists, Gandhis party,
consider that they would be effectively
barred from securing a legislative ma
jority in either branch of the federal
legislature
If that hindrance to the plans
acceptability by the independence group
were not enough to condemn the whole
scheme in its eyes, Mr.. Gandhi's hos
tility is sure to be evoked by the pro-
posal to place the federal executive
firmly under the control OF the British
viceroy. He retains exclusive power over
the Indian army and India's foreign
relations. He can override the Indian
cabinet on five matters:
% To prevent grave menace to the
state q. e., national uprising); CO to
safeguard legitimate interests of minori-
ties q. e., the anti-nationalist section of
Moslems, allies of Britain) 80 to safe
guard the financial stability and credit
OF the federation g. e., Britains fiscal
controD; (4) to protect rights of the
Indian princes G e., to buttress their
autocratic regimes); (5) to prevent
commercial discrimination G e., to for
bid Indians to break down British
monopolies). The viceroys consent
must also be obtained over a wide range
OF legislative subjects before bills can
be submitted.
British and Indian opinion on the
generosity" of the political freedom"
thus offered will differ widely. No early
reconciliation Of the divergent view
points can be expected, In any event,
delay Of several years is probable before
any attempt is made actually to carry the
program into fulfillment, because the
princes ruling half the aggregate popu-
lation of India must first signify their
acceptance of the federation. In addi-
ton, a politically-free sound national
reserve bank has meantime to be estab-
lished.