RULE IN INDIA

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 August 1942, Page 5

RULE IN INDIA

BRITISH OFFER HOLDS MAXIMUM'CO-OPERATION (Recd. 12.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 17. The present crisis in India is understood not to have affected the desire of the British Government, as stated by Sir Stafford Cripps, to promote the maximum association of Indians with the Government of India during the war within the existing Constitution. The advocacy by the Indian leaders of a Provisional Government, if it means an Administration responsible only to the Indian parties,.is regarded in London as.ibeing, in effect; a demand, for a surrender, of powen Such a course..would be inimical to both Indian interests : and those of the United Nations. .It is also considered that there would be little use of a British delegation visiting . India to negotiate with .the parties, as .the conversations could only be on the basis of those conducted . by Sir Stafford Cripps, whose offer has been publicity reaffirmed and remains unaffected by the recent developments. The Moslem League Working Committee in Bombay to-day appointed a sub-committee .to draft a resolution on the Indian political .situation in the light of the discussions which have already taken place. , ONLY MINOR INCIDENTS

(Recd. 12.10) LONDON, August 17. Reports from all parts of India indicate a considerable quietening of the situation. Only minor incidents have occurred in Calcutta. The curfew in Delhi has been extended two more days, and the ban on meetings three days. The Moslem League Working' Committee again met, and adjourned until to-morrow when it will considei' the resolution on policy. LATER. The curfew at Allahabad has been lifted. Fourteen Calcutta Nationalist newspapers with a total circulation of about 140,000 have decided to suspend publication on August 21, in a protest against the Government restrictions.

GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION GROWING DEMAND BOMBAY, August 16. There is a growing demand in all responsible quarters for the Government of India to take the lead in dissolving the present deadlock. Proposals have, been made for a conference on a wide basis of non-party leaders. , „ , The President of the Liberal Federation, Sir T. Sapru, to-day, urged the British Government to send a delegation to India to negotiate. “We cannot allow hooliganism, rightly denounced by Mr Rajagoplachariar. the Madras Congress Party Leader. Things have gone so far that mutual discussions with broadminded Parliamentarians are ruled out as impossible, either on the ground of prestige,. or evidence of weakness. Overshadowing. everything is the danger from the enemy, whoys alert and follows events in India from day to day, and is carrying on propaganda by radio with apt. skill further to inflame the situation.”

Sir T. Sapru and Mr Rajagopalachariar are going to Delhi this week. Sir T. Sapru is meeting Lord Linlithgow, and it is reported he. may mediate between the Government ano the Congress Party. Mr Rajagopalachariar appealed to Mr Jinnah, President of the Moslem League, to co-operate with the Congress Party in forming a provisional Government.

Mr jinnah, interviewed* said: H Britain in attempting to seek peace with Congress, attempted to sacrifice the Moslems, we would terminate cooperation. We have gone far enough, Mr Rajagopalachariar said: “The Moslem League should take the initiative. Mr Jinnah cannot be oblivious’to, the growing demand among his own people for an immediate enforcement of a practical solution. A provisional Government can and must be formed which would truly speak on behalf of the whole nation, and can peremptorily demand from Britain the transfer of full power, making impossible any false plea or procrastination on behalf of British Imperialism. The Moslem. League can take it for granted that Congress agrees to the right of self-determina-tion for federation units, and that they may choose to be separate and sovereign, being bound to the rest of India only for defence against foreign aggression.” Following statements by Mr. C. Rajagopalachariar, Congress Leader in Madras, and Sir Tej Bahadur Sapru, the Indian Liberal Leader, Bombay trade and commercial associations have sent a message to the Viceroy (Lord Linlithgow) urging him and the Government to open negotiations.

Sir Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Spalding Professor of Eastern Religions at Oxford University, pleaded at Benares for a provisional central government consisting of Indians of all communities and political parties, having entire freedom in internal administration, except in war matters. DISORDERS DECREASE. Rioting and destruction continue in a number of centres in India, but there is a general agreement in responsible quarters, both Indian and British, that the first phase—that of violent disorder—has almost passed. There is every indication that the Government forces are capable of maintaining the law and order they have restored with such vigour. Reports from various Indian centres show that the disorders have considerably abated. An improvement is reported at Nagpur, one of the worst areas, where the Post Office, and the Central Co-operative Bank were set on fire and destroyed, and Government money was stolen. Seven more persons were arrested this morning at Bombay, where conditions are now quiet. The Secretary of the Punjab branch of the Indian Spinners’ Association has warned workers who join the Congress movement that they must sever connection with the association.

Nine persons were injured to-night in Calcutta, when police fired on a mob. Police also charged a mob in a bazaar with lathis. The Government of the United Provinces, in a Press communique issued at Lucknow, says that after a spell of disturbances the towns in the provinces are settling down again. Quiet prevails at Meerut, Agra, Cawnnore, Allahabad, and Lucknow. The mills are working normally, and no incident has been reported. Broadcasting to North America on behalf of the British Labour Party. Mr. Arthur Greenwood recapitulated the Labour Party’s attitude to the Indian problem. A solution, he said, could not be imposed .from without. It must be sought by the Indian peoples themselves. He frankly admitted that the British Government had made a firm offer to India, and said that if the Indians showed true unity they could help in the fight for a free India and free democracy.