STANDING ALOOF

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22197, 6 December 1946, Page 5

STANDING ALOOF

INDIAN LEADERS NO ROUND-TABLE TALK BRITISH HEADS CONFER HO a.m.) LONDON. Dec. 5. All attempts to bring the Indian leaders together round the conference table failed, says the Evening News. The Prime Minister, Mr. C, R. Attlee, the Cabinet mission members and the Viceroy, Lord Wavell, will meet again to-night, but only to-morrow remains before Mr. Nehr uand Sardar Baldev Singh must begin their return journey. All four Indian delegates were together to-day as luncheon guests of the King. Reuter’s correspondent in Calcutta reports that the police fired several times against rioters to-day. Three persons were killed and G 7 injured. Three policemen were injured. The critical day in the discussions between the members of the British Government and the ' Indian leaders may be to-morrow, says the Press Association’s diplomatic correspondent. As matters stand to-night, there is little or no outward sign of unbending in the attitude either of the Congress Party or the Moslem League representatives. It has not so far been found possible to arrange a joint round-table meeting of the British and Indian representatives.

The correspondent adds that to-mor-row will be crucial because it is the last full effective day of discussion if the Indian leaders are to reach Delhi in time for the opening session of the Constitutional Assembly on December 9. The British Government’s position in the discussions is clearly that of a mediator, not an arbitrator. It is hoped that the major Indian parties will reach an agreement, but there is at present no sign of their doing so. The Viceroy add the Indian leaders will lunch with the King at Buckingham Palace to-morrow'. The Indian Home Minister, Mr. Patel, said in Bombay to-day that Congress accepted the London invitation purely on the grounds of courtesy, adding: “Whatever understanding may be reached in London or whatever assurances may be given the Moslem League, a real understanding between Congress and the League can be reached only in India. There is an unwritten understanding between the League and a section of the British ruling classes.”