GANDHI’S FAST

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23881, 25 February 1943, Page 5

GANDHI’S FAST

NEW JAMAICAN CONSTITUTION

“NO APPRECIABLE CHANGE” PARSEES’ REQUEST TO VICEROY (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) BOMBAY, Feb. 23. “There is no appreciable change to record,”, says a medical bulletin issued on Mr Gandhi’s health on Tuesday. “He has had only broken sleep, but to-day he appears comfortable.” Prayers for long life for Mr Gandhi and for his unconditional release are being offered in places of worship in cities, towns, and villages throughout India. The Parsee community in Karachi has passed a resolution requesting the Viceroy to release Mr Gandhi unconditionally to save his life for the cause of universal goodwill and peace. The Madras Hindu leader. Mr Rajagopalachari, and the Congress Party leaders, Mr Bhulabbai, .Mr M. G. Desai and Mr Munshi, have abandon their effort “to obtain from the Government a gesture which they could use to persuade Mr Gandhi to give up his fast.” They stayed on in New Delhi after the eaders of the conference for this purpose, but are now leaving to-morrow for Poona, where Mr Gandhi is fasting. 1

PLANS OUTLINED IN WHITE PAPER

LONDON. Feb. 23. Plans for a new Constitution for Jamaica are outlined in a White Paper issued in the House of Commons to-day. The plans are the result of negotiations between the Secretary of State for the Colonies (Colonel Oliver Stanley) and the Governor of Jamaica (Sir Arthur Richards). The five main points in the new Constitution are:—

(a) A House of Assembly with not fewer than 24 members to be elected on the basis of adult suffrage. (b) A Legislative Council of 15 members nominated from officials and non-officials. (c) An Executive Committee of 10 members presided over by the Governor with a casting vote but no original vote.

(d) The power of the Governor to pass bills remains, as does also his power of veto, but he must consult the executive committee and the Colonial Secretary. (e) The Constitution, if accepted, is to remain for a period of five years. Big developmental schemes are also under consideration on the basis of the former commission’s report, which recommended improvements to cost £4,500,000. Schemes costing Well over £1,000,000 have already been approved.

MR CHURCHILL BETTER

(Rec. 11 p.m.) LONDON. Feb, 24. The latest report on Mr Churchill’s health says that his condition has improved following a good night. The "Daily Mail” says that the doctors believe that if Mr Churchill did not employ his phenomenally active brain he would fret and become restive. which would not help him to recover. Mr Churchill needed a great deal of persuasion to take his condition seriously and consented to go to bed only when his breathing began to trouble him. He has felt the deprivation of his cigars, which previously he had not entirely relinquished. Even when suffering from paratyphoid fever at Salzburg in 1932 he demanded a cigar daily, which he smoked while wearing an ice-pack on his head.

PROGRESS BY JAPANESE

FIGHTING IN CHINA (Rec. 11.45 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 23. A Chungking communique says that in spite of determined Chinese resistance in south-western Yunnan, the Japgnese made progress to the north along the western bank of the Salween river in the fifth day of heavy fighting, which continues round Mamienkwan. There have been heavy casualties on both sides. So far the Japanese have failed to cross the Salween. Severe fighting is also reported from the provinces of Kwangtung, Hupeh, and Hunan.

ARCHBISHOP’S VISIT TO VATICAN

ROOSEVELT REFUSES TO COMMENT WASHINGTON, Feb. 23. Mr Roosevelt, at a press conference, refused to comment on whether Archbishop Spellman (Catholic Archbishop of New York) was carrying a Presidential message to the Vatican, He declared that Archbishop Spellman was visiting army and navy units in his capacity as chaplain bishop.

2759 R.A.F. BOMBERS LOST OVER EUROPE

LONDON, Feb. 23. From the outbreak of war to the end of 1942 Britain had lost 2759 bombers over Germany and western Europe, said the British Consul-Gen-eral in Chicago (Mr Wilfred Gallienne). He added that, these figures were official.