CONGRESS AIM IN INDIA

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 249, 18 July 1942, Page 7

CONGRESS AIM IN INDIA

Dictatorship Charge BRITAIN’S STRATEGIC duty: (British Official Wireless.) BUGBY, July 16. A study of the full text of the resolution of the Working Committee of the AU-India Congress Party brings out the following points: The declaration tliat after a British withdrawal from India the present political parties would cease to function can ■ only mean that Congress, as a totalitarian organization, would bring their existence to an end,. . Secondly, though the resolution implies that the Congress Party is the people’s party in contract to the other parties, dependent on the moneyed classes, it is, in fact, a party largely financed—at any rate in the past—by industrialists and landlords. Thirdly, the resolution states that Sir Stafford Cripps’ proposals showed that the British hold on India is in no way relaxed. The overriding concern of the British Government at present ■is to strengthen the military position of the United Nations, and the strategic importance of India must be of foremost concern. Hence the view’is held that a withdrawal from India would be an abdication of British responsibility to the United Nations and would paralyse the joint defence arrangements. Quick Axis Reaction. It is noticed in London that the approval by the Axis of the new Gandhi programme has been instantaneous and emphatic. A German Transocean agency message from Bangkok, Siam, says, ‘‘Under Gandhi’s leadership India is now irrevocably engaged in battle against Britain. The Indians of the Far East have heard with the utmost gratification that the Working Committee of the Congress Party has confirmed its confidence in Mahatma Gandhi’s leadership by accepting his programme for driving the British out of India.” Similarly, Transocean radio reports : “The Indian Independence League in the Far East will support Gandhi in every respect and not shrink from any sacrifice. Complete removal of British and American influence from India means India’s true independence, and that is one of the objectives of the Axis Powers in the war.” Firm British Stand. The Government intends to watch very closely for deevlopments in the anti-British campaign of the All-India Congress Party led by Gandhi, and it will not hesitate to take firm action if the campaign threatens to impede the war effort or the defence of India, says the “Daily Telegraph’s” political correspondent (quoted by the Press Association-. Well-informed circles stress that there is no question of the Government paying any official attention to the latest Congress demands or entering into any negotiations. In spite of the Congress references to “bondage,” India has raised more than 1,250,000 volunteers, mostly Moslems. They have served with great distinction in several theatres of war. Informed opinion dismisses as preposterous the suggestion of a British departure from India followed by the formation of a Government capable of defending the country. The Parliamentary correspondent o “The Times” says there is no question of any concession to the demand for a withdrawal of British rule.