INDIA TO-DAY

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22908, 3 January 1940, Page 6

INDIA TO-DAY

Claim for Dominion Status

THE ACID TEST FOR BRITAIN

[By CARL HEATH (chairman -India ' Conciliation Group)]

In the second volume of his great book, “Civitas Dei,” Mr Lionel Curtis has a most important chapter on the development of the British Commonwealth of Nations after the war of 1914-18. In 1911 at the Imperial Mr Asquith had brushed aside: all idea of shar-' ing foreign policy with the Dominions. In 1917, in the midst of the war, the Dominions, at the Imperial War. Conference, demanded “a full recognition as autonomous 'nations of an Imperial- Commonwealth . . . and an adequate voice in foreign policy.”, These things obviously could not be settled during the war, but were fully granted ‘at the next Imperial Conference. They are embodied in the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and in the Statute of Westminster, 1931. It is well to-remember this in looking at the present demand of .the Indian Party that controls eight of the British-Indian Provincial Governments. ’ That demand is in effect a que'stion put to the British Government: The Congress Working Committee invites the British Government to declare unequivocally their war aims, regarding democracy and imperialism and the establishment of a new world order, and how these aims will be to India now, and whether they include the elimination of imperialism and the treatment of ' India as a free nation whose policy, is guided by her oWn people. ’ Mr Nehru has, described this m notable words: “India wants to forget the past of conflict arid stretch out her hand in comradeship. But she can only do this as a free nation on terms of equality.” It is to be regretted that this was not met by a frank and simple reply; “We do mean these things, and, as sipon as the war is over we will all sit down to implement them.” • Britain Means Dominion Status . Nothing more was needed, for we do mean these things, .as evidenced by the frank reaffirmation in the Viceroy’s statement of Lord Irwin’s promise of Dominion status -in 1929, and in Sir Samuel Hoare’s speech in the debate on October 26; “When we spoke of Dominion status we meant what we said, and we did. not mean some system of government that deprived India of the full status of equality with the other British Commonwealths,” and he rejected the idea 1 that there was more than one kind'of Dominion status. ’ ' But unfortunately the British, like most imperial Powers, find it hard to deal with such matters.simply ‘and generously. Every possible difficulty is advanced for further delay, the most important now is the tension between the Congress Party and the Moslem League. This truly formidable difficulty is -elaborated at length, and although Sir Samuel says that Dominion status'is not a prize that is given to a deserving community. India is told that sne must solve this problem before she can be tree. The Congress Party is retorting by resignations of the eight Provincial Goveraments, thus, compelling the. British back to autocracy. What .appears to be needed is another and more un-, derstanding effort’ by the British Government, for there were at least three good things m the, Viceroy’s statement, viz., the reassertion of Dominion status as;the goal, the establishment of a consultative body (beginnings of an all-India Cabinet), and a promise of. reconsideration of the' proposed federal constitution, at the end of ■ 'tli© war. This new effort surely needs two things—a greater precision. in time as to .the admission of India to-full Dominion freedom, and an m-! itiative by . the ;Governmente o£ India itself in respect■ ot calling .together Congress and Mpsrlem League leaders, with a view to composing* their political- differences. This latter is surely 'the- duty of the Government, now that it has declared Cohgress-Moslem tension to be the one great obstacle in the way of what it . has promised time and again. . Important Points to Remember - There are some important points to be borne 4n mind. If it be justly said that the Congress, Party is not entitled to speak of itself as representing all India, though it does control eight out of 11 of the Provincial Governments, and on any democratic franchise would .constitute the Government ofc ellrlridiaL neither; ** India Moslem teague entitled, to it represents all Moslems. There are many Moslems in the Congress Party, including Dr. Khan Sahib and his Government di the North-West Frontier Province-—a Moslem province he it remembered, v ■ ' . ~ , 1, • ■ It Will be 'important,, however, that the Congress Party be willing to provide effective too • refidy to think that its mere word ought ■to he enough, It owes to its .Moslem and other . opponents much inore, sphd guarantees. . ~ *Again, in any,-useful Tecgnslderation .of the federal oonstitutlon, and thffi impiementing oi fuii mmlmon status, problem cratic prinfce§-will- ;haye to ; eluding the greatVVyer-weigntßgO; of representation given to them m.the' present set,. , ■■■v- Meanwhile, India waits. Is .it be eomihem dause aaainst Fascism, to which all India is opposed! ori-li It tO be a danserou 8 , cleayage betweipUhe movement of a nation determined 'on freedom, and an Empire claiming to-be the Ghampion of that freedom and an de'moeraev. hut slow to age that'this Indian problem, the rest'el’the world, as to India, ,gn acid test olitreineerity?