The Round Table Conference .
The Round Table Conference may or may not be actually wound up before Christmas, but the end is in sight. The Conference by no means satisfies its Indian members, and if it does not -satisfy. men so essentially moderate, it is idle to suppose that it will content the Congress party. But a good deal has been achieved none the less. The purpose of the Conference was to set the guiding lines for the concrete scheme the Government is to lay before the Select Committee of the two HousCs as basis for the final legislation, and if that scheme will not 'reflect full agreement on such matters as defence and financial safeguards, at least it will be shaped much more in accordance with Indian views than if the Con- ference had not been held. There have been the inevitable "a1ternations7of -optimism and pessimism in both camps, but definite results have been achieved and a great deal is owed to the British Indian members, who came here to co-operate at the risk of having to go back with a report of success so limited as to prejudice their personal positions considerably. As it is, no reproach lies against them. They have stated the Indian view ably, and at many points pressed it successfully on the Conference. The representatives of the States, on their side, have adopted an attitude which makes the prospects of federation reasonably bright. But many difficulties will only be removed in actual working, and the essential is to get self-government into operation both at the centre and in the provinces at the earliest date possible.
Previous page
