DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49382#0292
176
CHAPTER IX.
in the course of his speech at the last budget debate on India in the
House of Commons :—
“I will try to sketch the position in India to-day. If we were
considering only the position of India the great nations of
the world, the situation is a bright one. After having taken up the
challenge which Germany and her Allies presented to the civilized
world, after having devoted her invaluable troops and her resources
to the Allied cause, India lias won for herself a place in international
discussion equal to that of the British Dominions and greater than
the position occupied by any power in the world, except, of course,
those who are colloquially known as the ‘ Big Five.’ Not only has
she separate access to the Peace Conference, not .only have her
representatives received from the King power to sign, on his behalf,
peace with His Majesty’s enemies, but as members of the British
Empire Delegation they share in the task of.concerting the policy of
the British Empire. I can only say on behalf of my colleagues, His
Highness the Maharaja of Bikaner and Lord Sinha, and myself, that
we have devoted ourselves in Paris with all the more concentration
to the interest of the Indian Empire, because we realize we are the
representative; of a people not yet, unfortunately, self-governing.
“ It must have been a satisfaction to the House of Commons to
learn that India was to be an original member of the League of Nations,
and that Indian representatives are to sit in the far-reaching and
important international labour organization which is to result from
the Peace Treaty. These things, together with the place occupied by
my friend and colleague, Lord Sinha, in the House of Lords, commit
Parliament to the view that this position is only justified if you can
raise India to the position of a sister nation in the British Empire,
and is wholly inconsistent wish a position of subordination. I must go
one step farther. I would say to our colleagues who have sat with us
round the Conference table, representing the great Dominions of this
Empire, that the position of equality which they have given to the
representative of India is wholly inconsistent, in my humble opinion,
with the treatment of the citizens of India in British Dominions, in
CHAPTER IX.
in the course of his speech at the last budget debate on India in the
House of Commons :—
“I will try to sketch the position in India to-day. If we were
considering only the position of India the great nations of
the world, the situation is a bright one. After having taken up the
challenge which Germany and her Allies presented to the civilized
world, after having devoted her invaluable troops and her resources
to the Allied cause, India lias won for herself a place in international
discussion equal to that of the British Dominions and greater than
the position occupied by any power in the world, except, of course,
those who are colloquially known as the ‘ Big Five.’ Not only has
she separate access to the Peace Conference, not .only have her
representatives received from the King power to sign, on his behalf,
peace with His Majesty’s enemies, but as members of the British
Empire Delegation they share in the task of.concerting the policy of
the British Empire. I can only say on behalf of my colleagues, His
Highness the Maharaja of Bikaner and Lord Sinha, and myself, that
we have devoted ourselves in Paris with all the more concentration
to the interest of the Indian Empire, because we realize we are the
representative; of a people not yet, unfortunately, self-governing.
“ It must have been a satisfaction to the House of Commons to
learn that India was to be an original member of the League of Nations,
and that Indian representatives are to sit in the far-reaching and
important international labour organization which is to result from
the Peace Treaty. These things, together with the place occupied by
my friend and colleague, Lord Sinha, in the House of Lords, commit
Parliament to the view that this position is only justified if you can
raise India to the position of a sister nation in the British Empire,
and is wholly inconsistent wish a position of subordination. I must go
one step farther. I would say to our colleagues who have sat with us
round the Conference table, representing the great Dominions of this
Empire, that the position of equality which they have given to the
representative of India is wholly inconsistent, in my humble opinion,
with the treatment of the citizens of India in British Dominions, in