M.P.s' OPEN LETTER

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 306, 26 December 1940, Page 7

M.P.s' OPEN LETTER

TO INDIAN PEOPLE. Need For Co-operation To End Deadlock. British Official Wireless. (Reed. 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, Dec. 25. An appeal for a spirit of co-opera-tion in bringing an end to the deadlock in India, which they are convinced is due partly to misunderstanding, is contained in a letter to the people of India "from friends in the British House of Commons."

The letter, which states what are held to be the fundamentals of the British attitude towards the Indian deeire for political freedom, is signed by nine members of Parliament of various parties, most of whom have had experience of life in India.

The British attitude is set out under four heads. Firstly, the British people are anxious to give India full political freedom; secondly, the British wish to see India decide her own constitution; thirdly, the British Government hae certain 'obligations which it cannot renounce; fourthly, the British people desire that the advance toward Indian political freedom should be made as rapidly as possible.

On the fourth point it is observed that India will certainly appreciate that it is hardly possible for Britain to take part in a complicated constitutional settlement in the midst of a war, but, the signatories ask why Indians shoula not get together now to hammer at a plan—a plan which will be best not only for one community or party or political organisation or class or caete but for India as a whole and for her people.

In conclusion the writers say: "We are making this effort in the hope that it will help create a new atmosphere and inspire leaders on your side to come forward and establish, in this hour of common trial, the spirit of co-operation which we firmly believe the people on both sides are longing to see."