A Check to Federation The rejection by a conference of
Princes and their repre- sentatives in Bombay on Monday of the Instrument of Accession to the new Federal Constitution is a blow to the hopes reasonably entertained of the early establishment of constitutional government in India. The full import of the decision of the conference is not yet clear. Its vote was unanimous, but the Conference itself was not fully repre- sentative ; individual Princes have already declared their intention to accede. It appears to be not accession itself, but this particular instrument, that is being opposed, though there can be no doubt that the extension of Congress propa- ganda from British India to the States has raised the question of new safeguards for the States against the consequences of a majority vote in the Federal Parliament. For that reason the Princes may desire to see the Instrument of Accession, which defines the inalienable rights of the States, strengthened. If this interpretation is correct there is a reasonable prospect of a revised Instrument of Accession being accepted. But at best there must be considerable further delay, a matter for regret in any circumstances, and particularly in present circumstances.
Previous page
