The Grey River Argus SATURDAY, February 22, 1947. NEW ORDER FOR INDIA

Grey River Argus, 22 February 1947, Page 4

The Grey River Argus SATURDAY, February 22, 1947. NEW ORDER FOR INDIA

JT is more than 60 years since an Indian Congress began agitation for self-government, hut even" in the days of the East India Company’s dominion over the country nobody foresaw the situation now reached. It is rather Gilbertian in the light of past rule either by the British raj or the native princes. Britain to-day is actually endeavouring to force upon Indians the responsibility of selfgovernment, with only one qualification. It is that the sub-con-tinent shall be a united realm, although even that stipulation is evidently subject now to at least some measure of modification. The British Prime Minister has just announced the Government intends transferring power to responsible Indian hands within the next fifteen months or so, because current uncertainty

breeds danger of conflict on a greater scale than even at the time of the mutiny, which only involved native militia in British service. The two great factions, Hindus and Moslems, have been playing for their own bands —the Moslems for Pakistan, or autonomy in the areas where they predominate, and the Hindus for a constitution which would give

them ascendancy as the largest element in the country, In some degree the Hindus have the right ■■ o f jt—in the sense that unity in general is consistent with their stand. But Britain doubtless wishes them to make ■:oncessions to reconcile the Moslems, wiio have boycotted the Assembly aiid been perfunctory only in their entry to the interim Government set up under the plan of the British Cabinet mission. -The exit of Lord Wavell is hinted to have been due to his sympathy with the Moslems. Hence Lord Mountbatten’s appointment to succeed him as Viceroy may point to an intention of treating the Congress as the repository of power next June. On its part, the Congress now offers, it is stated, an olive branch in the shape of a modified Pakistan in certain areas for the Moslems. The latter now must put on their caps wizen there is a prospect that their

boycott might cause them to miss the bus altogether. Perhaps they would calculate that by persisting in non-co-operation, they might emulate Gandhi in bringing pressure upon Britain and thus preventing the change-over forecast by the Prime Minister. Britain has been accused of playing for time in Palestine by referring the case .to U.N.0., and Moslems might be tempted to regard in .that light Mr Attlee’s declaration that even if Indians cannot formulate a constitution, some of them will be empowered to govern. Assuming, however, that the British Government has made

up its mind, it can be given credit for a determination to cut the Gordian knot, and place squarely on Indian shoulders the task of governing the Indian people. Of course, the native States are being shepherded by Britain. Mr Attlee stating paramountcy is being retained until a final transfc? of power. The native States are a complication, but they will have to come ultimately into line, even though it were preferable that an Indian regime should so persuade them. The population of India is so vast that the rise of the nationalistic spirit prevents Britain from ruling now as she could formerly rule. It is a reasonable anticipation that British interests

would obtain greater consideration in trade and industry from an Indian Government than the interests of other countries. No doubt other countries will nevertheless embrace eagerly every opportunity to gain a commercial footing, but the Indians have, on ■the whole, good reason to recognise that they have derived from the British association benefits as great as the British, and certainly since the days when the East India Company monopoly was ended. People might imagine that

Britain is to-day relinquishing her oversea interests rather extensively, but the fact is that the changes have been ripe for years, and are as regards India, an organic development. Britain owes India a lot of money since the’war, and, besides enormous trade, has had the service of unsurpassed Indian soldiers for a lifetime. It may be expected that the Indidns presently will realise their responsibility, as well as their opportunity, and replace bargaining with a policy of cooperation. It is up to them. Incidentally, even if they refuse to unite, it appears that Britain today is ready to make at Least some areas autonomous, and the Moslems may thus expect consideration. lienee the transfer of power in at least a great measure ap pears to be certain w’thiu fifteen months.