INDIA LET DOWN

Grey River Argus, 29 November 1946, Page 2

INDIA LET DOWN

BY SOVIET BLOC In 11.0. Council Election NEW YORK, Nov. 20. Those well informed attribute India’s failure to obtain election to the U.N.O. Security Council to a lastminute withdrawal of the support of Russia and the Slav bloc. India was eager to have one of the three vacancies so as to emphasise her new freedom, and ever since the Assembly was convened the Indian delegation had been quietly canvassing for votes, This is believed to be partly the reason for the Russian “line” which India has been pursuing. The delegation felt confident of election, provided all of the Slav States voted for her. It is believed that the Indian delegation had no reason to believe that this support would not be given until iecently, when Russia sought a quid pro quo, the nature of which is not known. There was an earnest conversation between Indian and Russian representatives shortly before the ballot was taken on Tuesday, and it is assumed that India would not give whatever undertaking the Russians sought. India obtained thirteen votes, including those of Britain and Australia, and presumably most of the delegations representing coloured peoples. The Moslem League leader (Mr Jinnah) in a letter to the Viceroy (Lord Wavell) requested an indefinite postponement of the Constituent Assembly meeting. The president of the State Council (Mr Debabhoy) in a speech at New Delhi before his* retirement, said it was safe for India to* remain within the Empire “because of the pronounced division between the two great parties and the trend of affairs in and around Asia.” He added that it was essential to build up the economic resources and industrialism of the country, expand trade and make the farmers prosperous and the provinces* Self-sufficient before contemplating leaving the Empire. Mr Prasad, in the State Council, said: “Things are no worse in Bihar than in eastern Bengal. The number of killed is nothing like five figures'.” Mr Prasad recently returned from Bihar. The Calcutta Corporation has decided to erect a statue to Subhas Chandra Bose who headed the provisional Government of Free India formed in Singapore during the war, and was organiser of the Indian National Army which fought for the Japanese. _ *