INDIAN CRISIS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 77, 12 August 1942, Page 2

INDIAN CRISIS

ATTITUDE OF CHINA SPOKESMAN TO VISIT THE VICEROY (Rec. 1.55 p.m.) Chungking, Aug. 11. The Chungking spokesman, asked whether China was willing to mediate in the Indian dispute, replied: “If there is anything China can do we will be very glad to do so.” He declined to reveal whether the British approached Chungking for mediation, but said he had accepted an invitation to visit the Viceroy, Lord Linlithgow, shortly. Asked whether he regarded Mr Gandhi’s release as a prerequisite to a British-Indian settlement, he said the Chinese Government has no idea of the procedure for reaching a settlement. He added that any suggestions now might not be helpful. He asserted that although legally the Indian problem was a domestic British problem, it was the moral concern of all the United Nations and bore directly upon the future prospects of a better world order. He said it might prove helpful to have a Pacific Charter in which specific assurances were given. He commented that nationalism cannot be suppressed by weapons alone. Asked whether comments of the Chinese Press which fully supported India’s independence demand were hurting Chinese-British relations, he said he hoped Chinese-British relations would not be affected in the least by any episode. He warned that a continuation of disturbances in India would interfere with China’s war supplies and said Chinese intelligence indicated that Japan was preparing to attack India in the autumn. It was reported that Japanese transports delivered fresh divisions on 27th-28th July at Haiphong and Saigon, in Indochina, where they entrained for Thailand and Burma wnere they col® attack eastern India. Also the Japanese had concentrated a large group of warships in Northern Formosa, probably for an attack on Fukien. Concerning the Solomons he said the Allied attack was a very significant and very timely offensive action, and one of the most heartening pieces of news received. —P.A.