GREAT DANGER SN DELAY

Northern Advocate, 7 March 1947, Page 5

GREAT DANGER SN DELAY

Mr R. A. Butler (Con.) predicted that the new Viceroy, after two or three months, would find a unitary system of government impossible. He would then have the unprecedented task of transferring potver to a variety of units. Mr Attlee, said Mr Churchill’s experience of India was 50 years out of date, but even Mr Churchill did not seek to restore the British Raj as it was in the days when Mr Churchill was in India. Mr Attlee, discussing Mr Churchill’s complaints about lack of information on the change of Viceroys, said: “When a Prime Minister thnks a change is desirable, because he thinks a change in tiie bowling is desired, it is not necessary always to have an elaborate explanation.” Mr Attlee said the Government had been given very strong advice from India that it was desirable to fix a date for the transfer of power. He knew the difficulties were going to be enormous, but “we have been warned that the dangers of delay are as great as the dangers of going forward.” Mr Attlee said the Services could be assured that they would not be let down.

The Opposition amendment to the Government motion on Indian policy was defeated by 337 Votes to 185. and the Government motion was agreed to without division.