South African compromise

WE have before us the text of the statement which has been issued at Simla regarding the Indian problem in South Africa, but judging from the telegram published in these columns yesterday, it is safe to assert that a decision of great importance has been reached. As our readers are aware, there is one demand which, ever since the introduction of the anti-Asiatic Bill in the Union Parliament, our countrymen in South Africa, backed by the government and the people of India, have consistently put forward with all the strength and emphasis of which they are capable, namely, that the whole question of their position should be referred to a Round Table Conference representing all the interests affected, and that pending the report of such a conference, the consideration of the anti-Asiatic Bill and all similar Bills should be postponed. This is the demand which, after a good deal of hesitation and after making every practicable effort to resist it, the Union Government does appear to have partially accepted now. In the words of the Simla telegram, they “have accepted the offer of the Government of India for a conference to arrive at an amicable solution of the Indian problem,” and “have decided, subject to the approval of the Select Committee and Parliament, not to proceed further with the anti-Asiatic Bill until the results of the conference are known.” The points left obscure by this telegram are: (1) whether it will be a Round Table Conference of the kind demanded by the South African Indians; (2) what its exact composition and terms of reference will be; and (3) whether the anti-Asiatic Bill is the only measure that is to be referred to it.