NOT DECIDED

Grey River Argus, 21 May 1947, Page 5

NOT DECIDED

PARTITION OF INDIA

BRITISH EXPRESS WISH FOR UNITY

LONDON, May 20.

The Daily Express’s political correspondent says that Viscount Mountbatten told the Ministers that the problem of India demanded a decision within a few weeks.

The Daily Herald’s political correspondent says: When the Viceroy, Viscount Mountbatten, returns to India for a meeting at New Delhi on Juno 2 with Indian leaders, he will present them with a last chance of maintaining unity. He will urge the Cabinet’s view that unity under an Indian Government is desirable on political, economic and strategic grounds, but no pressure will be put on the leaders. He will take back concrete plans for separate constitutions for Hindustan and Pakistan.

The Evening News diplomatic correspondent reported: “Mr Attlee will call a special Cabinet meeting during the week for a full discussion on Viscount Mountbatten’s report on the Indian political situation. Viscount Mountbatten will meet Mr Attlee and the other Ministers directly concerned this evening. Mr Attlee is determined to adhere to the Government’s decision to hand over power to such ‘authority or authorities’ as may exist in India in June, 1948. “The Cabinet’s hope that the country will become united by the simple decision to clear out by June, 1948, has already proved to be dangerously naive. Communal strife and disorder is getting worse. Twelve were killed and 90 arrested at Lahore in the sixth consecutive day of communal riots. Women and children are streaming out of the city. British Indian troops and Gurkhas are patrolling almost deserted streets. Colleges and schools are closed, factories are idle, and Government office staffs are absent”. MOSLEM SUSPICIONS

The Associated Press Lahore correspondent says that Sir Firoz Khan Noon, Moslem League leader, accused the British of carrying out a policy of “deliberate drift” in India. He said: “If they want to leave India, why do they need 12 months tc do it? The present policy will endanger the peace of India and the world”.