INDIAN SITUATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 47, 25 February 1942, Page 4

INDIAN SITUATION

WAR CABINET REVIEW

THE JAPANESE MENACE

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright-)

(Rec. 9 a.m.)

LONDON, Feb. 23,

It is understood ithat the War Cabinet is reviewingl the whole Indian situation, in an attempt to resolve the present political difficulties. *■

The "Daily Majl," in a leader, said: "Great events are pending in India, to which the Japanese menace is looking even closer1, but relations between Britain and India are still undetermined. On the wisdom of the decisions now taken depends the whole future of the Indian Empire. An Indian crisis is upon us. What are we going to do about it? Some people are saying that India is too hard a nut to crack, and that the Japanese would break their teeth on it if they tried. India is being wrongly compared with China. India only recently acquired national feeling, and 90 per cent, of the people do not know what fighting for India means. The remainder would not fight enthusiastically for an India - governed by Britain. "India is most suitable for tank and" x air warfare. The Indian Army is not completely modernised. Tanks and aircraft must be sent from Britain, but will they reach India in time? A Japanese invasion would spread panic among the Indians, unless they were superbly led and had faith in their cause. India's defence cannot be left entirely to a general." The New Delhi correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" says it is urgently necessary for Britain and the United States to move with enough speed, vigour, and imagination to qdpe with the grim facts of India's situation, which requires genius, plus dynamic energy. Obviously the paramount need is for adequate supplies of modern equipment, and also first-class propaganda to counteract fifth column activities. __ .