TRANSFER OF POWER TO BE MADE BY MIDDLE OF 1948

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXV, Issue 14297, 21 February 1947, Page 3

TRANSFER OF POWER TO BE MADE BY MIDDLE OF 1948

“RESPONSIBLE INDIAN HANDS” TO TAKE OVER

ADMINISTRATION

London, February 20. The British Government has decided to hand over power • in India by June of next year at the latest, whether or; not a constitution has been worked out by then. Lord Louis Mount- ! batten has been appointed Viceroy of India in place of Viscount Wavell until the British withdrawal takes place. This change of office will occur in March. An earldom has been conferred on Viscount Wavell. The House of Commons was crowded as the Prime Minister made this announcement this afternoon. He recounted the efforts which hrtd been made to establish a representative Constituent Assembly through which the transfer of power in India could be carried out smoothly and workably. These efforts had failed. The present state of uncertainty was fraught with danger and could not be indefinitely prolonged. His Majesty’s Government, Mr Attlee went on, wished to . make it clear that it was their definite intention to take necessary steps to effect the transfer of power into responsible Indian hands by a date not later than June, 1943. Mr Attlee said the British Government were anxious to i hand over its responsibility to a Government based on the support of the people., and he appealed to all parties in India to sink their differences, so that they would be ready to shoulder the great responsibility which will fall on them next ’ year. If a constitution had not been worked out then, Mr Attlee said, the British Government would have to consider to whom the power of the Central Government should be handed over, whether to some form of Central Government or in some areas , to existing provincial Governments. Although the final transfer might not take place until June of next year preparatory measures must be in hand at once. , As Mr Attlee finished speaking Mr Churchill rose and asked why was the change'in Viceroy taking place? What difference was there between the Government and Lord Wavell? Mr Attlee said he had no further statement to make and other questions could best be dealt with when they had a debate on India. In the House of Lords where the Secretary for India, Lord Pethick-Lawrence, made a statement similar to the" Prime Minister’s, Viscount Cranbourne said the decision on India had come as a profound shock. It provided no safeguards and amounted to what he called the abandonment of India which to many gave no hope of a peaceful and prosperous future for her people. • ■■ The House of Lords is to have a debate, on India on Tuesday. , . So far no date has been announced for the debate in the Commons. The House already has three big debates nlanned: Palestine on Tuesday, the fuel position on Wednesday and Foreign Affairs on Thursday. (