VICEROY EXPLAINS BRITISH POLICY TO INDIAN LEADERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 18 April 1947, Page 5

VICEROY EXPLAINS BRITISH POLICY TO INDIAN LEADERS

LONDON, April 17. The Delhi correspondent of The Times, reporting that the two-day conference of provincial governors convened by the Viceroy (Viscount Mountbatten) ended yesterday, says: “No official, account of what transpired is available, but it is learned that Viscount Mountbatten gave the Governors a detailed account of the British Government’s policy towards India today and explained how the Government’s intentions will be ful-, filled during the coming months. “He received from them a full picture of the conditions prevailing in their provinces and the difficulties they must face in applying the present policy. There was a frank discussion on the problems involved in the imminent transfer of power from Bfiitish authority to native ministries, and it is certain that both the Viceroy and the governors profited from the free exchange of facts and IclCcis “Naturally, the prevalence of communal strife throughout northern India was the predominant topic, and how to maintain law and order and the morale and efficiency of the public services were the most acute questions that arose in that connection. All the governors are faced with these questions, and it is likely that they sought enlightenment and 'niri in their onerous tasks. “Other matters urgently calling for -attention are widespread indusiriil strife and Communist agitation Jo? a social and political upheaval both of which threaten to paralyse the country’s production and com munications unless the provincial governments deal firmlywith them.