FUTURE OF INDIA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 181, 2 August 1941, Page 7

FUTURE OF INDIA

DOMINION STATUS Commons Informed Of Latest Development* British Ofncial Wirelos*. Rec. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Aug. 1. In a statement in the House of Commons on the recent expansion of the Viceroy of India's Executive Council, the Secretary for India, Mr. L. S. Amery. said that there was now general acceptance that India, should as soon as practicable, obtain Dominion status. The issue was now how she should govern herself, and under what type of constitution it would be possible to preserve unity and yet secure freedom and reasonable self-expres-sion for the various elements composing her national life. He did not doubt that there was enough constructive ability and natural goodwill among the Hindus and Moslems, enough Indian patriotism to find a constitutional solution giving a fair recognition to all communities and. all interests. There was a call today for a new technique of consul* tation and conciliation with each. other. In these conditions, the technique of civil disobedience cut no ice, because it bore no relation to the real issue. "The British Government wishes as an interim policy, and within the framework of the existing constitution, to associate Indian leaders more closely and more responsibly with the government of their country during the war in order to emphasise the undoubted unity of purpose in the present struggle against the evU forces, which are as hateful to every section in India as to Britain," said Mr. Amery. "The interim policy was the most practical contribution possible at the present stage towards the future constitution of India, and it committed nobody to anything beyond co-operation in the war effort. It afforded a wider range for the administrative ability and experi. ence of Indian public men while being an earnest of Britain's desire to see the government of India increasingly entrusted to Indian hands." i Indians Predominate It was with this object that the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, had been authorised to enlarge the Advisory Council. Evidence had reached Lord Linlithgow of public annoyance in India with purely party manoeuvres impairing co-operation in the war effort, and he had thus approached the men most qualified to strengthen the Government. With hardly an exception they had responded im> hesitatingly and without regard to previous party affiliations. Except for the presence of one representative of European commerce and another of the resident Anglo-Indian community, the new National Defence Council would be entirely Indiaji in its composition. "His Majesty's Government does not look jealously upon the development of Indian industry, far from it," said Mr. Amery. "We fully realise that the development of Indian resources in every direction, industrially as well as agriculturally, is essential to her prosperity, arid essential to the foundation of her security and that free position in the world in which we wish to see her to-day." The ideals Congress had advocated over all these years were ideals which formed part of the Government's policy, and if he criticised the Congress party it was because their tactics had not permitted these ideals to be carried out. The whole essence of British policy was to invite and urge the Indians to come to an agreement among themselves.