INDIA'S EFFORT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 172, 23 July 1941, Page 7

INDIA'S EFFORT

NEW APPOINTMENTS Administrative Changes To Meet War Needs Brit;s>i omc:al Wireless. Rec. 1.30 p m. RUGBY. July 22. Important administrative changes. designed to increase the efficiency of the Indian war effort and to associate Indian public opinion, more closelv with the defence of the country, have been announced by the Governor-General, I.crd Linlithgow As a result of increased pressure o: work in connection with the war, it has been de> ided to enlarge the Executive Council by the addKion of ih-e new posts, thus giving the Vicerov a War Cabinet with a marked ma.ioritv ..f In ban public men instead o'i the former European and official majority. The King has approved the following appointments to the five new seats on the Council:—Supply, Sir Hoi musii Modv: Information. Sir Akbar Hydan: Civil Defence. Mr. Raghaveridra Kas: Labour. Sir Firozkhan Noon; Indians Overseas. Mr. Madhas Shrihari Amy. It may be noted that Mr. Aney last November led the Congress party in opposition to the supplementary war Budget. Other new appointments arc:—Sir Syed Sultan Ahmed, as Law Member: Mr. Malini Ran.ian Sarkar. Member for Education. Health and Lands, filling the vacancies caused by the recent appointment to other posts of Sir Muhammad Zafrullah Khan and Sir Girja Shankar Bajpai (Agent-General for the United States'. In the second place. His Majesty's Government, in pursuance of its desire to associate Indian non-official opinion as fully as possible with the prosecution of the war. has approved the Viceroy's recommendation for the establishment of a National Defence Council, the first meeting of which will be held next month. The Council, about 30 members strong, will include representatives of the Indian States, provinces and other elements of national life. Mr. Amery's Statement It was emphasised by the Secretary for India. Mr. L. S. Araery, speaking in that the changes were not concerned with the constitutional future of India, where progress was at present impossible, but were purely to increase administrative efficiency during the war and tap the vast reservoir of hitherto unused ability, despite the refusal of the Congress partv and the Moslem Eeague to co-operate. The creation of a Defence Council associated with India's war effort, representative of all influential sections of the community, answered the insistent demand which the Vicerov, the Marquis of Linlithgow, felt should not indefinitely be refused just because of the intransigence of party leaders. "Members are invited by the Viceroy, but are mostly chosen representatives of various communities and interests." added Mr. Amery. "The Council includes the Premiers of four provinces where provincial autonomy is still functioning. Women are represented bv Begum Shah Mawaz. and other interests represented by persons of standing and independence are commerce, labour, the army, parsees, scheduled cases (depressed classes). Indian Christians and Anglo-Indians. "The Council, which is advisorv, will meet at intervals in secret to receive confidential information concerning the war- position, and act as a valuable liaison between the provincial war effort and the central authorities. "Satisfaction is expressed at the public spirit of the Indians, who have thus come forward, as well as at the confidence that the effect of these steps will be far-reaching, and cannot but influence the future political developments of India bv the infusion of a spirit of practical co-operation between all classes for the common purpose.

"I cannot help hoping that in the course of working together, whether on the Executive Council w on the National Defence Council, in the common interests of all parties, the representatives in this new move of the Viceroy will be drawn more closelv together and will find points of mutual understanding and sympathy which may immensely facilitate a solution of these very difficult intercommunal and inter-party problems, which to-day are the main obstacle to Indians attainment of her rightful position as a free and equal member of the British Commonwealth," Mr. Amery added.

MIXED RECEPTION Constitutional Changes In Indian Government REACTION" OF NATIVE LEADERS Rec. 2 p.m. BOMBAY, July 22 The expansion of the Viceroy's Executive Council, and the establishment of a National Defence Council was piven a mixed reception bv party leaders and the Press. Mr. SavarkaK. president of the All-India Hindu Movement, welcomes the step. but. on the contrary. Mr. Jinnah. president of the Moslerr League. says the changes arc deeply regretted and will no' secure the wholehearted and genuine support of the Moslems, because th< Viceroy's nominees ate not t!«.r real representatives of the peopl* and do not command the Mo.-leir.s trust and confidence. The "Times of India" says that foi the first lime the Government o India is overwhelmingly Indian anc overwhelmingiy non-officiaL