Reckless Action Charged

Evening Star, Issue 26043, 6 March 1947, Page 7

Reckless Action Charged

Sir Stafford said that Britain would do all in her power to encouragethe formation of ari*lndian Government as recommended by the Cabinet mission. If that were impossible and there was no such central Government by June, 1948, Britain would be forced to choose in the existing circumstances the most appropriate Government or Governments to which to hand - power, but at present it was impossible to forecast .what would then be the wisest action to,take. The only way to remove unjcertainty was to get an agreement be-tween-the Indian communities. He therefore urged the Indian leaders to come together so they would be able to lead India into'paths avoiding the horror and,tragedy of internal strife, and allow her to develop her great re•sources through peace into prosperity. Sir John Anderson charged the Government, first, with reckless action in allowing the Indian leaders to form a Government without the assurance of

the speedy framing of a constitution; secondly, with complete failure to take or even to consider measures necessary to maintain efficiency in India, and thirdly, with unjustifiable gambling on a fixed date. By' fixings a date Britain threW away the last bargaining power she needed for the discharge of certain obligations such as defence. What should stand out as a great act, of magnanimity and selfabdication might go down in history as surrender and betrayal. Sir John concluded that ‘f the Government persisted in the plan all must join in hoping for a happy issue, “ however slender the chance.” He moved an Opposition amendment that the House was unable to accept the Government’s India plan on the ground that it prejudiced the working out of suitable Constitutional measures.*