INDIA’S URGENT NEED

Grey River Argus, 28 April 1942, Page 5

INDIA’S URGENT NEED

FOR REINFORCEMENTS An Australian’s View of Position [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.'l (Rec. 11.0). NEW DELHI, April 26. Sir Bertram Stevens, former Australian representative on the Eastern Supply Council, and former Premier of New South Wales, declared:-— '■'There is abundant evidence that the Japanese regard the early conquest of India as being vitally necessary to sectire world power. I think that the threat to India is serious.

“The loss of India might involve the loss of the whole war. Japan and Germany aim, in effect, at a junction as soon as possible, and they can only accomplish this through Russia or India. Russia has proved too tough, but Japan has not been stopped an her approach to India.” , . , Sir Bertram Stevens emphasised that the loss of Rangoon, as the port of the Burma supply route to China, was tragic, and said that the dependence of China on supply routes from India meant that what was now at stake' in India was tne fighting power of eight hundred million As ; atics. Referring to Indian production, Sir B. Stevens said that its expansion possibilities, in the main, had been fully 7 exploited within the limits or the basic industrial position. He said that reinforcements must now come from the United States and from Britain, and must come quickly. “What was .called the highest quarters here, who, for years nave opposed the establishment of industries in India, must now see that thBritish taxpayer, who is meeting more than half the cost of the wai effort in India, is paying a big price for years of neglect.”

GANDHI’S ADVICE

FOR JAPANESE TO LET INDIA ALONE, (Rec. 11.45.) ALLAHABAD, April 27. Mahatma Gandhi, in a statement, said: “The Japanese may free India from the British yoke, but only to impose their own. Let the Japanese leave India alone if they have a good intention. What has China done to deserve the devastation wrought, there?”