TENSE WAIT FOR STATEMENT

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 139, 9 March 1942, Page 5

TENSE WAIT FOR STATEMENT

India’s Future Status MOSLEM LEAGUE AND CONGRESS

(By Telegraph.— Press Assn.— Copyright.)

(Received March 8, 7 p.m.) NEW DELHI, March 7

India is on tip-toe lor Mr. Churchill’s impending statement, which is expected today. It is rumoured in New Delhi that .Mr. Churchill, Sir Stafford Cripps (Lord Privy Seal) and Sir James Grigg (Secretary for War) have been opposing Mr. Eden (Foreign Secretary) and Mr. Amery (Secretary for India) who, it is believed., are clinging to the original offer of Dominion status for India after the war.

The Moslem League has sent a cablegram to Mr. Churchill to the effect that the party is alarmed at the possibility of the British Government announcing constitutional changes for India and requests that no changes be made prejudicial, to the Moslem demand for a partition of India.

“Nothing but Indian freedom can make a vital difference or move our millions to effective action,” said the Congress leader, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, in a statement in Bombay yesterday. “Talk of reforms and minor changes and what will happen after the war would be mere quibbling.” The national minorities would be able to make proposals when the representative Assembly met to frame India’s Constitution, he said. “Either there will be agreement or the question will be referred to an international tribunal. Otherwise the problem will be solved by conflict. This risk must be taken. There is no other course. A Government must be formed responsible to the Indian people, not to the Viceroy and the British Government.”

Dealing with the Moslem League’s assertion that an independent India would be a Hindu India, Mr. Nehru said, “The question of minorities does not at present arise. In any event, reasonable protection would be given to them. The Princes may at present be left out of consideration, but Indian freedom will ultimately vitally affect their position.” A friendly settlement of the entire problem would make a vast difference and release tremendous forces on the side of freedom and democracy.

It was officially announced in New Delhi yesterday that a technical mission is shortly arriving from the United Stales. The military situation in south-east Asia has emphasized the need for fully developing the resources of India as a supply base for the armed forces. The mission will report on the possibilities of such a development.