PACIFIC COUNCIL MEETING

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23745, 17 September 1942, Page 5

PACIFIC COUNCIL MEETING

INDIA DISCUSSED VIEWS OF MR NASH (Rec. 1 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 15. At to-day's meeting of the Pacific Council the whole war outlook was discussed with India in the forefront because of the bearing of the Pacific situation. The New Zealand Minister to the United States (Mr Nash) expressed the opinion that the problem of India’s relationship to England would be solved. As he saw it, Britain had made an honest offer, telling the Indians: “You form a Government, and we will drop ours when yours is formed. It is absurd to say you shall not have a government in the meanwhile, but there is one qualification—for; the duration of the war we want to use India to defend the interests of the United Nations.” Mr Nash said that this was reasonable, and would provide India with the same status as the other Dominions. with complete sovereignty. Mr Nash reported that there was nothing now about Siberia, but personally. ho thought Japan would attack immediately she thought she could succeed. A Scripps-Howard columnist states: “To-day the big rains, end in Bengal and Assam, and the period of India’s peril begins. British policy in India will therefore soon be put to the test. For weeks Japanese troops have been on the move, though whither they are bound is not altogether clear, but the odds favour India as the principal objective.” .