DISASTER AVERTED

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 10 August 1942, Page 2

DISASTER AVERTED

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA’S ACTION MR AMERY’S VIEWS (Rec. 1.15 p.m.) Rugby, Aug. 9. The Government of India by “cutting out the fuse leading from the arch saboteurs to all the inflammable and explosive material they hoped to set alight” had saved India and the Allied cause from grave disaster. Mr Amery, Secretary of State for India, said in a broadcast. He believed any trouble there might be there could be dealt with by the police and the courts. The Government, of which eleven of the fifteen members were Indians, for acting with courage and promptitude in asserting its responsibility for peace and the defence of the country, deserved the gratitude of India, the Empire and the United Nations. Referring to earlier negotiations in India, Mr Amery said they had broken down mainly because of the “all or nothing” attitude of the Congress leaders who demanded that all of India should be handed over to a group of politicians responsible to nobody. This would have been the negation of democracy and would not have been acceptable to 95.000.000 Moslems or to many other elements. Congress had come to regard itself as the only party entitled to take over regardless of the views of all others. Gandhi had calculated on an open clash with the Government to arouse mass emotions and so retain prestige for himself and his associates and focus attention upon themselves as the champions of India against British oppression.—B.O.W.