[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Rushbrook Williams's reply gives
me an oppor- tunity of stating my reasons, which for want of space I could not state in my article, for the view I expressed therein that the British Government has done a wrong to the subjects of Indian States by denying them separate representation at the Round Table Conference from that of the Princes. A consti- tutional difficulty is supposed to stand in the way of their inclusion. It is said that, in so far as the question of readjust- ment of relations between British India and Indian States is concerned, the Conference must be limited to representatives of the respective Governments, and that as the administrations in Indian States happen to be autocratic, the States can only be represented in the existing circumstances by Princes or their nominees. But is it a fact that the Conference will be so limited to representatives of Governments ? Is it meant that the representatives of the people of British India, who as -set have no authority to speak for the British Government and who, nevertheless, are to be admitted to the Conference, will be asked to withdraw from it when the question of the mutual relations between the two parts of India will conic on for dis- cussion ? Presumably not ; and if they are to be allowed to participate in the discussion on what ground can the people of Indian States be excluded ? The Conference is not meant to arrive at a final and definitive settlement of the political questions which will form the subject of discussion. When that stage arrives it is but right that the Governments alone should be parties to it, and the people of Indian States as well as British India should be kept out. But the Conference is convened for a preliminary discussion with a view to ascertain- ing the maximum amount of agreement between all the parties concerned ; and at this stage the States' people are no less. entitled to representation than the British Indian people. The very strong probability that exists at the present moment of the Opposition parties in this country being given represent- ation at the Conference adds considerable strength to the claim of the subjects of States for similar representation. Even if Government decides eventually not to include these parties, the decision will obviously rest on considerations of expediency, and not on the constitutional objection such as is raised to representation of the States' people, that it is not within the competence of Government to include them. Thus the Government's decision on this point, whatever it be, supports the claim which the people of the Indian States are putting forward.
But there is another, and a stronger, ground than this. A readjustment of the existing relations between British India and the Indian States may result in relaxation of the control exercised by the British Government over the States, and this
will affect the people of the States differently from the rulers. The Crown of England has undertaken certain obligations on behalf of the States' people as it has undertaken obligations on behalf of the Princes ; and if the I'rinees have a right to be consulted at the Round Table Conference on t he ground that reform of the British Indian constitution may involve, in fact if not in form, a change in the treaty position, surely the people too have a similar right to be consulted on the identical ground. These may find that the power which the British Government has reserved to itself, first of preventing mis- government wherever possible and then of potting things right where preventive action is not possible. is substantially whittled away as a result of agreement at the Conference between the British Indian people and the Princes, neither of whom are interested in maintaining it intact. It is, therefore, an act of flagrant injustice on the part of Government to have ensured, by inviting them to the Conference, strict fulfilment of its obligations to the l'rinces, while virtually neglecting its obligations to their subjects by excluding these from the deliberations at the Conference.—I am, Sir, &e., Kensington Palace Mansions, W. S. S. G. VAZE.
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