NO AGREEMENT BY MOSLEM LEAGUE TO ONE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

Evening Star, Issue 26152, 14 July 1947, Page 5

NO AGREEMENT BY MOSLEM LEAGUE TO ONE GOVERNOR-GENERAL

(Rec. 11.50 a.m.) NEW DELHI, July 13. Mr Jinnah, addressing a Press conference to-day, declared that the Moslem League had not agreed to a common GovernorGeneral for India and Pakistan, and then backed out. He was replying to Mr Gandhi, who said yesterday that Mr Jinnah had gone back on his world by accepting the Pakistan Governor-Generalship. Mr Gandhi said that so far as he understood, both Congress and the Moslem League had agreed to a common Governor-General. Mr Jinnah said: “I accepted the Governor-Generalship of Pakistan because it was the choice of the people and not as ordinarily understood an appointment by His Majesty.” He added that so long; as he had power the minorities in Pakistan need have

no apprehension. . The minorities, while' enjoying freedom of religion, faith, life, and property, owed loyalty and true allegiance to the State. When asked whether he was resigning from the presidency of the Moslem League, Mr Jinnah replied: “I am getting deeper into politics, 1 have to deal more with realities now.” Mr Jinnah said lie . sincerely hoped that Indian and Pakistan relations would be friendly. He did not think Moslem goodwill would be wanting. Pakistan foreign policy would be most friendly to' every nation. Pakistan stood for world peace. He was satisfied with the progress of the Partition Council. The -Pakistan Constituent Assennly would meet in Karachi on August 10. Mr Jinnah. commenting on relations with Afghanistan, said: ‘‘Do not worry. The . position is quite all right." Asked whether Pakistan would remain in the British Commonwealth after June, 1948, Mr Jin- ' nah said: “We will have to consider that.”