Members of the South African Indian Congress met the Minister of the Interior in Pretoria on 16 November 1925. They opposed the Areas Reservation and Immigration and Registration Bill, and also urged the Government to agree to a round-table conference among representatives of the Union and Imperial Governments, the Indian Government, India and the S.A.I.C. to consider the whole Indian question. The letter to the Minister, dated November 1925, is reproduced here. A transcript of the discussion between the Minister, Dr. D. F. Malan, and the delegation has not been reproduced. Source: Pachai Collection.
We, the undersigned, being members of the deputation elected at the session of the South African Indian Congress assembled in conference at Cape Town from the 9th to the 12th November 1925, desire to express our sincere thanks for granting this interview.
The South African Indian Congress, which is constituted of elected representatives of the various provinces of the Union sitting in conference as aforesaid, passed, among others, the following resolutions:
1.That the South African Indian Congress in conference views with alarm the Areas Reservation and Immigration and Registration (Further Provision) Bill, which is in violation of the 1914 Gandhi-Smuts Agreement, which Bill has for its objects the compulsory segregation of Indians, the deprivation of their proprietary rights and the ultimate elimination of the Indian community as openly declared by the Minister of the Interior, and begs to submit to the Government that on a matter of principle the Indian community of South Africa opposes this Bill in toto.
2.That this Congress urges upon the Union Government to consent to a round-table conference of representatives of the Union and Imperial Governments, the representatives of India, the Indian Government and representative of the South African Indian Congress to consider the whole position of the Indians here, and arrive at an honourable settlement.
The tenor of the resolutions clearly indicates that the Bill is not acceptable to the Indian community because it is against fundamental principles of good citizenship. Consequently it is felt that no good purpose could be served by discussing it in detail while other grave difficulties exist, which require adjustment, e.g. questions of licences, immigration, education, etc.
The Indian communities are thoroughly dissatisfied as the Bill undoubtedly imposes upon them a stigma of inferiority. Further the Bill is contrary spirit of the Gandhi-Smuts Agreement.
If there is an earnest desire on the part of the Union Government to arrive at a satisfactory settlement of the general position affecting Indians in the Union, then we feel that this could be best achieved by a round-table conference in accordance with the suggestion contained in the second resolution
This being the view of the Congress, we urge its acceptance upon the Union Government as a bona-fide desire on our part to discuss generally the whole situation, and bring a final and honourable settlement.
The Congress is not aware of any reason why the Union Government has not formally declared its intention to agree or to disagree to the round-table conference although it has intimated that it was in communication with its Indian Government in regard thereto, and that matters had taken a definite course.
The Congress realizes the necessity there is for arriving at some satisfactory understanding on these vital questions, and is prepared to do its share in securing a settlement consistent with honour.
We respectfully press upon the Union Government our sincere belief in the good results that a round-table conference would bring about; and trust that the Union Government will accept and accede to the terms of the second resolution aforementioned, and in the meantime stay further progress of this Bill.