THE INDIAN QUESTION

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXII, Issue 266, 9 October 1942, Page 2

THE INDIAN QUESTION

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 8. In the House of Commons debate on the India Bill, Mr Campbell Stephen (T.L.P., Camlaohie), seconding Mr Maxton’s amendment for rejection of the measure, urged the release of the Congress leaders and the calling of a conference of all parties to enable them to set up a provisional Government.

Mr Oliver Stanley (C., Westmorland), said that in the next few months a battle would be fought out in India deciding the country’s future for many centuries. If it went the wrong way it might put an end to the discussion of India’s freedom for many years. The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Attlee), replying to the debate, pointed out that it yielded very few practical suggestions. He added that no one knew better than Gandhi that in India civil disobedience led to violence. Terrible tilings had happened and Gandhi himself had expressed repentance. It was most regrettable that at the end of his life Gandhi should again have taken action which had resulted in the deaths of innocent people. Mr Attlee ■ reiterated: “We are prepared to go fully into the question of the principle of our proposals,” which lie believed everybody agreed were generous and wise.—Official Wireless.