JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ ISSUED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNION OF SOUTH AFRICA

It was announced in April, 1926, that the Government of India and the Government of the Union of South Africa had agreed to hold a round table conference to explore all possible methods of settling the Indian question in the Union in a manner which would safeguard the maintenance of western standards of life in South Africa by just and legitimate means. The conference assembled at Cape Town on December 17th, and its session finished on January 11th. There was in these meetings a full and frank exchange of views which has resulted in a truer appreciation of mutual difficulties and a united understanding to co-operate in the solution of a common problem in a spirit of friendliness and goodwill.

Both Governments reaffirmed their recognition of the right of South Africa to use all just and legitimate means for the maintenance of western standards of life. The Union Government recognise that Indians domiciled in the Union who are prepared to conform to western standards of life should be enabled to do so. For those Indians in the Union who may desire to avail themselves of it, the Union Government will organise a scheme of assisted emigration to India or other countries where western standards are not required. Union domicile will be lost after three years’ continuous absence from the Union, in agreement with the proposed revision of the law relating to domicile, which will be of general application. Emigrants under the assisted emigration scheme who desire to return to the Union within the three years will only be allowed to do so on refund to the Union Government of the cost of the assistance received by them.

The Government of India recognize their obligation to look after such emigrants on their arrival in India. The admission into the Union of the wives and minor children of Indians permanently domiciled in the Union will be regulated by paragraph 3 of resolution 21 of the Imperial Conference of 1918.