INDIAN NATIONALISTS

Evening Star, Issue 20373, 3 January 1930, Page 8

INDIAN NATIONALISTS

CONGRESS PROCEEDINGS BRITISH PRESS COMMENT Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, January 2. (Received January 3, at noon.) The proceedings of the Indian Congress concluded yesterday. ‘ The Times,’ in a leading article, says: “ The formal outcome of the hubbub at Lahore is that three main propositions were carried, not without confusion, ny the persuasive eloquence of Mr Gandhi. In the first place, the members ol the Congress Faity reject the oiler of participation in the London Conference, and pronounce their goal to be the complete independence of India. In the second place, they are called upon so boycott the existing Central and Provincial Legislatures, to take no part in future elections, and to resign such seats as they may hold at present. In the third place, they authorise tneir committee, whenever it deems fit, to launch a programme of 'civil disobedience, including a general refusal to pay taxes. Whether this platform is likely to strengthen them, even as an Indian political party, must be regarded as very questionable. Meanwhile one of the first results has been the emer gence in the force of the Liberals, meeting in simultaneous congress at Madras, who have lost no time in welcoming the London Conference, have recognised publicly the .rights of the States m a greater united India, ahd have roundly deplored the turmoil in which the cry ol independence must involve their conn try, and the conference of allegiance *s certain to gain strength as the enthusi asms of Lahore grow cooler and then quarrels and personal diificulties become more apparent. It is sufficient for the moment to note that the actual terms of Mr Srinivasa Sastn’s resolution at the Madras Conference, based on dominion status, subject to such safeguards and reservations as may »e necessary for the period of transition, is not after all incongruous in principle with the declared pm poses of British statesmanship. What really matters most is that for the first time there seems some prospect of an organised force emerging in Indian politics with a sense of the realties and the deter mination to face them. The ' Manchester Guardian ’ also expresses the view that “ the Lahore Congress, having decided to base its policy on emotions and ideals and to ignore facts, the Indian moderates have a chance of regaining control of India’s course. At Madras they were urged to take it by Mr Sastri, whom India respects more than any other statesman, hardly excepting Mr Gandhi himself. The ‘ Guardian ’ urges the moderate*, who have many disting iishc/1 leaders, to organise early with a. policy likely to yield practical results by securing tfi ■ co-operation of the British Governme.it. The Labour newspaper (the ‘DadHerald ’) says that Mr Gandhi and Ins colleagues have made a singularly tool ish blunder in committing the Lahore Congress to a futile policy of mere negation “ The policy of the British Government and of the Government ol India, in the face of the congress re»o lution, is clear. Nothing which has passed at Lahore calls tor even Gie slightest change. The goal has been declared. The new spirit which Captain Wedgwood and Lord Irwin have brought into Anglo-Indian relations and into the methods of the Indian Government remains. The invitation to the Indian leaders stands. There will be no deflection either to the right or to the left, if, indeed, there are on the pan of the more irresponsible elements outbreaks of violence or of defiance of the law they will be dealt with firmly, but firmness in maintaining order will oe accompanied by equal firmness in adhering to a policy of friendship and conciliation and of steady perseverance on the path to self-government.” Ih- ‘ Herald ‘ urges Mr Gandhi to reflect before the decision to refuse to taae part in achieving a new constitution lor India becomes irrevocable.

INDEPENDENCE DAY DELHI, January 2. January 3, at 11 a.m.) Despite the order of the Congress Committee to-day’s meeting calling tor the withdrawal of members, from the Assembly and Councils, it is uncertain whether the mandate will be generally obeyed. January 26 has been fixed as Independence Day for the holding of demonstrations throughout the nation supporting the new Congress policy.