UNITY PARAMOUNT

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXI, Issue 207, 2 August 1941, Page 7

UNITY PARAMOUNT

INDIA’S WAR EFFORT. DOMINION STATUS LATER. (United Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Aug. 1. In a statement in the House of Commons on the recent expansion of the Viceroy of India’s Executive Council, Lie Secretary for India (Mr Amery) said there was now -eneral acceptance of the proposal that India should as soon as practicable, obtain Dominion status.

The issue was now how she should govern herself and under what type of Constitution it was possible to preserve unity and yet secure freedom and reasonable self-expression for the various elements composing her national life. Mr Amery did not doubt that there was enough constructive ability and natural goodwill among the Hindus and Moslems, enough Indian patriotism, to find a constitutional solution giving fair recognition to all the communities and all interests.

There was a call to-day for a new technique of consultation and conciliation with each other. 111 these conditions the technique of civil disobedience cut no ice, because it bore no : relation to the real issue. i’he British Government wished as an interim policy, and within the framework of the existing Constitution, to associate the Indian leaders more closely and more responsibly with the government of their country during the war in order to emphasise the undoubted unity of purpose in the present struggle against evil forces which were as hateful to every section of India as to Britain. The interim policy was the most practical contribution possible at the present stage towards the future Constitution of India. and it committed nobody to anything beyond co-operation in the war effort. EXCELLENT RESPONSE.

)L afforded a wider range for the administrative ability and experience of Indian public men while tieing an earnest of Britain’s desire to see thp government ol India increasinglv entrusted to Indian hand* It a« with this object that Lord Linlithgow ( \ iceroy) had l/cen authorised to enlarge the Advisory Council.

r Ma A-nry said evidence had reached Lord Linlithgow of public annoyance in India \i itb purely party manoeuvres, impairing c-o-oj* ration in ibo -.vnr t.f~ I fort, and be bad thus approached the "! men most qualified to strengthen the -! Government. With hardly an exception ' they had responded unhesitatingly and - without regard to their previous party J affiliations. Except for the presence of , one representative of European 00m- • 11101 c-e and another of the res dent j Anglo-Indian community, the new Na- : tjonal Defence Council would lie enj tirely India ir> its composition ■ Replying to the debate. Mr Amery said: “His Majesty’s Government does not look jealously upon the developI ment of Indian industry—far from it. i r ‘ ul J-y realises that the development , of Indian resources in every direction, j industrially as well as agriculturally, is ! essential to her prosperity and an essential foundation of her security and ' Unit free position in the world in which ] we wish to .see her today.” 1 Mr Amery added that the ideals j which the Congress Party bad advoI rated over all these years were ideals which formed part of the Government’s policy, and if lie criticised the Congress Party it was because their tactics had not permitted these ideals to be carried out. The whole essence of British ■ policy was to invite and urge the Indians to come to an agreement among ! themselves. i “J am glad to think that, regardless i ol their party leader and in spite of i party discipline, patriotic Indians have ! com* forward and are working together ] for their defence If they can work j together lor their defence they are also ! capable of. working together to find j Indians’ salvation at home.”—Official I Wireless.