THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper — ?jF 5, 1947.' India's Epochal Decision

Northern Advocate, 5 June 1947, Page 6

THE NORTHERN ADVOCATE Registered for transmission through the Post as a Newspaper — ?j F 5, 1947.' India's Epochal Decision

Announcement that Indian community leaders have accepted the British plan for India constitutes welcome news the full significance of which cannot be estimated today.

The loaders of the Congress Party, the Moslem League and the Sikhs have indicated their acceptance of the plan, but final decision by the Moslems can be made only by the Moslem League Council, which will meet on Monday.

It is accordingly premature to say that solution of a problem hitherto baffling has been found, but, as the leaders of the different parties have favourably received the plan, its adoption may be reasonably expected.

As an outcome of negotiations conducted by the Viceroy of India, Viscount Mountbatten who has proved himself statesman as well as renowned soldier, the British Government took a momentous step when it agreed to implement its decision to leave India to the Indians in June, 1948, by accepting a plan submitted by Lord Mountbatten after consultation with Indian party leaders. The plan provides for the partitioning of India into two states — Pakistan (the coveted goal of the Moslems) and Hindustan (a separate Hindu state) each possessing Dominion status, with its own Government and both subject to one, or perhaps two, governors-general, the states remaining units of the Empire for a short period, when they will be free to choose independence or remain within the British Commonwealth.

Britain, through Viscount Mountbatten. has declared beyond possibility of misunderstanding that there shall be no dictation on the part of any British official insofar as the constitution of a boundary commission is concerned, and 'it may be safely assumed that the same declaration will hold good in respect of India’s choice between linking up with, or standing aloof from, the British Commonwealth of Nations. This may be gathered from the Viceroy's broadcast statement to the people of India: "This is your country, and it is up to you to decide what you want to do with it.” Nothing plainer or fairer than this could have been said, and it indicates very plainly that Viscount Mountbatten knows what the leaders of the Indian peoples are likely to do when the appropriate moment arrives. “I worked hand in hand with the Indian leaders at every stage and

stop in the development of the plan.” the Viceroy declared in his broadcast, thus inferring that there took place the fullest exchange of confidences.

The Viceroy admits that the plan is not perfect—so do the Indian leaders —but they doubtless all agree with Viscount Mountbatten that "if there had been such a thing as a perfect plan it would have been found ages ago between the leaders themselves.”

Agreement upon the plan approved by the British Government and accepted by the Indian leaders in conference with the Viceroy may therefore .be interpreted as marking one of the great epochs in history. Viscount Samuel, speaking for the Government in the House of Lords, when the decision to hand over India to an Indian Government in June. 1948. was being discussed, stressed this fact, saying there was no doubt that today we stood at the turning point of the nations. The great movement of the Asiatic and African peoples towards liberty has been approved and encouraged by the Atlantic Charter. Th«> British Government’s action was the climax to a long evolution: he declared bluntly that in India it was time to come to a decision.

That this opinion has influenced the attitude of statesmen who saw in Britain’s proposed departure from India a grave if not mortal blow to the Empire, may be gathered from utterances of prominent leaders who, while unquestionably loth to witness the evacuation, are now inclined to agree that an India possessing Dominion status and constituting a unit, or units of the British Commonwealth of Nations is likely to be of mutual advantage to India and the Commonwealth.

Who will not pray fervently' 'that this may. prove to be the case? With the future all unknown, it is impossible to foresee the conclusion of the whole matter, but there will be general rejoicing if the Indian people steer clear of the many dangerous rocks which stud the path of the transitionary' stage upon which they are to enter under the plan accepted by Britain and India. These rejoicings will be intensified if, emerging safely from what might well be regarded as the Valley of the Shadow of Death, they and the peoples of the British Commonwealth of Nations face the future a united family determined to promote the mutual welfare of each other and to see India a glittering gem in the Commonwealth’s Crown.